A total of 8,596 complaints and queries were handled by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s (FSAI) Advice Line in 2024. Announcing details today of the complaints and queries last year, the FSAI stated that there were 4,996 complaints from consumers, with 32% of complaints relating to unfit food and 29% to suspected food poisoning.
Overall, the 4,996 consumer complaints in 2024 represented a 13.7% increase compared to the previous year with 4,395 complaints. The figures reflect an overall upwards trend over the past decade. All complaints received by the FSAI in 2024 were followed up and investigated by food inspectors throughout the country.
Unfit food, which is food that is not safe to eat, was the most frequently reported complaint in 2024. Unfit food also includes contamination with a foreign object. Commonly reported foreign objects in food included: plastic; insects/spiders; hairs; glass; metal; and stones.
Examples of some of the complaints include a large piece of rubber in a protein bar; a dead spider in a loaf of brown bread; a piece of glass in a chicken breast; a pack of muesli full of maggots; a toothpick in a bag of chips; a metal pin in pre-packed prawns; a piece of plastic in a milkshake; a metal nail in a takeaway meal; a snail in a box of grapes; a live insect in a burrito bowl; and a large piece of metal in a chocolate biscuit. Other complaints regarding unfit food cited undercooked meats; food served cold when it should be hot; and foods with “off” tastes or smells.
The second most frequently reported category related to reports of suspected food poisoning making up 29% of the total complaints in 2024. This was an increase on the 23.3% of food poisoning complaints in 2023.
The third most frequently reported category related to poor hygiene standards with reports of rodents spotted in businesses; staff not wearing appropriate clothing; poor personal hygiene with staff openly coughing and sneezing; staff not washing hands and handling food and money with the same gloves; excessive flies and insects spotted in food businesses; generally unclean premises; food not being stored correctly with fridges and freezers not cold enough; and food being stored in boxes on floors.
The breakdown of all complaints are as follows:
Unfit food: 1,597
Suspect food poisoning: 1,449
Hygiene standards: 1,289
Labelling: 169
Others: 156
Allergen Information: 155
Unregistered food business: 81
Mr Greg Dempsey(Chief Executive, FSAI), stressed the importance of making complaints to the FSAI, so that any food safety issues can be addressed. “We welcome consumers and food businesses contacting us via our Advice Line. People reporting inappropriate and unsafe food and practices is vitally important and is an essential component, supporting the work of the food inspectorate to ensure the highest standards and quality across the food chain. The year-on-year increase in complaints to the Advice Line reflects an increased awareness among consumers of the importance of food safety and also demonstrates their zero-tolerance approach when it comes to poor food safety and hygiene standards in food products and in food premises,” said Mr Dempsey.
“Food businesses have a legal obligation to provide safe food and it is vital that food businesses ensure they adhere to the legislation at all times. The FSAI Advice Line, supported by a comprehensive website and learning portal, are important resources for the food industry, and we encourage all food business operators to avail of these free and accessible tools,” added Mr Dempsey.
The FSAI Advice Line also offers advice and information. During 2024, there were 3,600 queries from people working in the food industry, including caterers, food manufacturers, retailers; and others. Popular topics included: how to start a food business; food labelling information; best practice in food businesses; food safety training and several others.
The FSAI Advice Line is contactable through our online complaint form ‘makeitbetter’ or through our online query form. The FSAI Instagram, Facebook and X pages are also resources with up-to-the-minute information in relation to food safety:www.facebook.com/FSAI and @FSAIinfo.
Food Safety Authority of Ireland Warn Of Undeclared Sulphur Dioxide In Batches Of Palm Sugar,
Alert Summary dated Friday, April 11th, 2025.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A13 Allergen: Sulphur dioxide Product Identification: Please see table below. Batch Code: Please see table hereunder.
Country Of Origin: Thailand
Message: Sulphur dioxide was detected in the below batches of Palm Sugar, which is not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make these batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of sulphur dioxide, and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batches. The affected batches are being recalled.
Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) warn of the presence of sulphites, soybeans and possible presence of gluten in specific batches of Milano Drop Skin Drops.
Alert Summary dated Thursday, April 10th 2025.
Allergy Alert Notification: 2025.A12 Allergens: Cereals containing gluten, soybeans, sulphites Product Identification: Milano Drops Skin Drops; pack size: 50ml Batch Code: All batches with no batch code or best before dates. Country Of Origin: Australia
Message: Specific batches of Milano Drop Skin Drops, which do not contain batch codes or best before dates on the product label, are being recalled. The implicated batches contain soybeans and sulphites and may contain cereals containing gluten which are not declared in the list of ingredients. This may make the batches unsafe for consumers who are allergic to or intolerant of cereals containing gluten, soybeans or sulphites and therefore, these consumers should not eat the implicated batches.
FSAI recall batches Of Tony’s Chocolonely hollow chocolate eggs due to possible presence of metal fragments.
Alert Summary dated Friday, April 4th, 2025.
Category 1:For Action. Alert Notification: 2025.18. Product Identification: Please see table hereunder. Batch Code: Please see table below. Country Of Origin: Belgium.
Message: The below batches of Tony’s Chocolonely hollow chocolate eggs are being recalled due to the possible presence of small metal fragments. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in stores.
Retailers are requested to remove the implicated batches from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale. Wholesalers/distributors are requested to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated batches and provide a point-of-sale recall notice to their retail customers. Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batches.
FSAI recall a batch of Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream due to chemical smell and taste from the product.
Alert Summary dated Friday, April 4th 2025.
Category 1: For Action Alert Notification: 2025.17 Product Identification: Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream tub; pack size: 1 litre; approval number: IE 1065 EC Batch Code: L24356B; best before date: June 2026 Country Of Origin: Ireland
Message: The above batch of Dairy Farm Vanilla Ice Cream is being recalled due to some customers experiencing a chemical smell and/or taste from the product. Point-of-sale recall notices will be displayed in Lidl stores.
Action Required: Consumers: Consumers are advised not to eat the implicated batch.
Note: At the best of times, according to the independent YUKA App. the above product, when scanned by Thurles.Info, contains Mono-and diglycerides of fatty acids, latter a high risk texturizing agent which provides consistency, maintains or modifies the texture of this product. This additive we are informed, could in cases of high consumption, increase the risk of developing cancers and cardiovascular diseases. It is also suspected of disrupting gut flora , which could lead to an increased risk of autoimmune and allergic diseases, as well as inflammatory diseases.
This product also contains Locust bean gum; Guar gum and E415. These additives/texturizing agents used as emulsifiers are believed to also alter gut microbiota. A recent Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale(INSERM) study, [latter the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research], found that such emulsifiers may be associated with the development of breast cancer. However, it is also accepted that further studies are required with regards to this latter claim.
Now comes the questions: (1) With this research knowledge readily available; why are Irish manufacturers allowed to use these additives/texturizing agents in such products? (2) Why are Shops/Supermarkets continuing to sell such products? (3) Could the removal of such additives/texturizing agents from our food, reduce hospital overcrowding and patient waiting time for beds?
We have forwarded these three questions to the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine, Mr Martin Heydon TD. (martin.heydon@oir.ie) and to the Minister for Health, Ms Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD (jennifer.carrollmacneill@oireachtas.ie); seeking early replies.
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