Live maggots in fried chicken, metal shavings in chicken wings, and a live snail found in a pack of spinach were among just some of the complaints to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in 2022, which saw the number of complaints lodged to it rise by almost a fifth last year.
The authority dealt with 4,058 complaints in total last year, with 31% of them relating to unsafe food and 28% relating to poor hygiene standards.
The overall number of complaints rose by 18.9% compared to 2021, which the FSAI says is a continuation of an upward trend over the past decade.
Food contamination was a frequent issue raised with the authority, which cited incidents such as live maggots being found in fried chicken, pieces of glass found in coffee beans, and part of a disposable glove being found in a rocky road biscuit.
Other complaints lodged included a live snail being found in a pack of spinach, a false nail being found in garlic cheese chips, bloody plasters being found in a curry dish, and metal shavings being found in chicken wings.
Improperly cooked meats, mould found on food, and food being sold past its use-by date were also frequent complaints.
A total of 1,124 complaints were lodged in relation to poor hygiene standards, while an almost equal number of complaints (1,122) were lodged over suspected food poisoning.
Instances of poor hygiene issues found by inspectors included fish deliveries left out in the sun, rodent droppings and staff not washing their hands.
The authority said all complaints raised through it last year were followed up on and investigated.
"Food businesses have a legal obligation to provide safe food and people noticing and contacting us is of great benefit to the Environmental Health Officers, veterinary and agricultural inspectors, sea-fisheries inspection officers and the laboratories," FSAI chief executive Pamela Byrne said.
"While they carry out routine inspections throughout the country and analyse food samples, complaints assist in targeting an issue and ensure possible threats to public health are dealt with quickly.
"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."
