3,414 food complaints to FSAI in 2021

Over 3,414 consumer complaints were received by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Advice Line in 2021, with 36% of complaints relating to unfit food and 24% to poor hygiene standards. Overall, the 2021 complaints saw a 23% increase compared with 2020.

That year saw a considerable decrease on the previous year due to Covid-19, and the 2021 numbers are more in line with the pre-Covid-19 figures of 3,460 in 2019.

The FSAI noted that foreign body contamination of food was frequently reported in 2021. Commonly reported objects in food included: strands of hair, insects, stones, pieces of plastic, metal and glass. Examples include glass found in porridge and sweet potato fries; hair found in numerous takeaway foods; metal found in baked beans; a maggot found in soup and a metal screw in spareribs.

Complaints regarding unfit food cited a can of orange juice filled with beans; a piece of wood found in a container of soup; an exploding bottle of fruit juice; a spider in a takeaway cocktail; and a disposable glove in a pie.

Consumer complaints ranged from reports of food unfit to eat, to non-display of allergen information: 1,235 complaints on unfit food, 815 complaints on hygiene standards, 622 complaints on suspect food poisoning, 162 complaints on unregistered food businesses, 139 complaints on incorrect information on food labelling, 97 complaints on non-display of allergen information, 344 ‘ other’ (i.e., unregistered food businesses, Covid-19 restrictions, advertising complaints).

ADVICE LINE

All complaints received by the FSAI in 2021 were followed up and investigated by food inspectors throughout the country, and the FSAI continues to develop new information on a range of food safety concerns.

The FSAI’s Advice Line also offers advice and information and during 2021, there were 4,718 queries from people working in the food service sector. Food businesses should refer to the FSAI website for the most up-todate advice on issues such as how to develop a food safety management system; how to maintain the highest hygiene standards and how to declare the presence of food allergens.

The FSAI Advice Line is open during usual working hours from 10am to 4pm weekdays, manned by food scientists and trained advisors and can be reached at info@ fsai.ie or through the online complaint form ‘make it better’ on the FSAI website.