ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

The number of complaints about poor food hygiene in Ireland rose by 14 per cent last year, at 2,738. That's according to a report from the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.

Contamination of food with foreign objects was frequently reported by consumers. In 2015 those reports included allegations of food contaminated with dead insects and metal, as well as other foreign objects. For example an animal tooth in jam; a beetle in a burger bun; a worm in a chicken nugget; a metal screw in a cake; a snail in pick ‘n' mix sweets; and a sharp piece of glass in frozen peas.

Other complaints regarding unfit food referred to undercooked food being served in food premises; out-of-date food being sold in retail outlets; mouldy bread being used to make sandwiches and strange tastes coming from food. All complaints received by the FSAI were followed up and investigated by enforcement officers throughout the country.