There was an increase of over 13% in the number of queries and complaints the Food Safety Authority of Ireland got about food and food establishments last year.
The authority received a total of 11,166 calls from consumers.
There were 2,415 complaints, compared to 2,126 in 2010. They ranged from reports of unfit food, low hygiene standards, inaccurate labelling information and suspected food poisoning.
The FSAI said that contamination with foreign objects was frequently reported by consumers.
In 2011, these reports included food contaminated with live and dead insects; a tooth; a false nail; pieces of metal; plastic rubber tubing; and a plaster. Specific incidents cited were a small dead rodent in a bag of bananas and a bolt complete with nut and washer in meatballs.
Consumer concerns relating to food sold past its ''best-before'' date, where no information was displayed at the point of sale, were received.
Food legislation does not prevent a packaged food to be offered for sale past its ''best-before'' date, but it is strongly recommended to indicate to the consumer that the food is past its ''best-before'' date.
Other complaints ranged from suspected food poisoning, to poor hygiene standards, to food workers handling money and not washing their hands before handling food. All complaints received by the FSAI were individually followed up and investigated by environmental health officers throughout the country.
FSAI Information Manager Edel Conway said 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.
Last year saw the FSAI launch its first digital communications campaign entitled ''See Something, Say Something!'', which aimed to raise awareness among consumers of its advice line service.
Ms Conway said consumers are more vigilant than ever; they expect and are entitled to an adequate standard of food hygiene in every food establishment and across every food product they purchase.
The remainder of the 11,166 calls made to the FSAI's advice line in 2011 related to advice on food labelling; legal requirements for starting up a new food business; food safety training information; food legislation; and requests for FSAI publications.
