Dirty plasters in curry and fake nails in chips among the complaints made to FSAI last year

Irish food safety complaints are up almost 20 per cent for 2022.

Foreign body contamination of food was frequently reported in 2022. The most commonly reported objects in food were pieces of glass, wood, plastic, paper, metal, hairs, small stones, medicine tablets, and insects. Among the examples named in the report were a live snail in a pack of spinach, live maggots in fried chicken, part of a disposable glove in a rocky road biscuit, a dirty and possibly bloody plaster in a curry and a false nail in garlic cheese chips. Nasty stuff. The second most frequently reported topic is related to poor hygiene standards. Hygiene issues reported included fish deliveries left outside in the sun, excessive flies and overall dirty food business premises, rodent droppings spotted, bathrooms lacking soap, and staff not washing hands and other poor staff hygiene habits. Dr Pamela Byrne, chief executive of the FSAI, said the authority "commend members of the public, as well as the food industry for reporting food safety issues." She added that "the increase in complaints is a positive indication of people’s heightened awareness of their right to expect high standards of hygiene and food safety in relation to food." We hope that didn't ruin your appetite for lunch.