A snail in chicken, a caterpillar in pork chops and a butterfly in fresh cream were just some of the complaints received by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland last year.
A total of 3,460 consumer issues were handled by the advice line, with over half of those relating to unfit food and poor hygiene standards.
Last year’s complaints saw a rise on the 3,424 reported in 2018, with the number of reports relating to non-display of allergen information up significantly at 25%.
Contamination of food with foreign objects was frequently reported with allegations of insects and plastics present.
Hair was reported several times as well as false nails, small pieces of stone and metal.
Other reports included a snail in a whole chicken, a caterpillar in pork chops and a butterfly/moth in fresh cream.
Complaints regarding poor hygiene standards in food premises claimed there were live mice and evidence of rodent activity throughout handling and storage areas, staff failing to wash their hands when cooking and serving, pigeons in the deli area and flies present.
FSAI chief Dr Pamela Byrne said: “Our advice line continues to be a valuable resource enabling consumers and food businesses to contact us with their complaints or queries around food safety.
“The figures from last year show consumers too are becoming increasingly attentive as to how establishments are expected to operate in terms of food safety.
“By reporting their incidents around hygiene, labelling, food safety practices and pest control, members of the public and people working in the food sector provide us with the information we need to do our work effectively.”
