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A caterpillar in pork chops and a snail in a whole chicken: Last year was a busy one for the food safety authority

The FSAI received almost 3,500 complaints in 2019.

THE FOOD SAFETY Authority of Ireland (FSAI) received almost 3,500 complaints from consumers last year to its advice line, half of which related to unfit food and poor hygiene standards, new figures released today reveal. 

The FSAI last year saw a significant increase (25%) in complaints relating to the non-display of allergen information while poor hygiene complaints rose by 19%. 

Complaints relating to suspected food poisoning also saw an increase of 8% in 2019. 

The total number of complaints to the FSAI in 2019 saw a small increase overall compared with 2018 (3,424). 

Last year, consumer complaints ranged from reports of food unfit to eat to incorrect food labelling information:

  • 1,134 complaints on hygiene standards
  • 1,082 complaints on unfit food
  • 792 complaints on suspect food poisoning
  • 149 complaints on incorrect information on food labelling
  • 135 complaints on non-display of allergen information
  • 113 other

In addition, the FSAI noted an increase in the number of complaints from customers in relation to inadequate pest control in food premises which it said has also been reflected in FSAI Enforcement Orders. 

Under the FSAI Act 1998, a closure order is served where it is deemed that there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or in the premises; or where an improvement order is not complied with.

Closure orders can refer to the immediate closure of all or part of the food premises, or all or some of its activities, but can be lifted once a food premises is found to be compliant.

Recent closures have included a Dublin restaurant where inspectors found “evidence of rodent activity”

Contamination of food with foreign objects was frequently reported by consumers in 2019. 

Reports included allegations of food containing insects, plastics and other foreign objects.

Hair was reported several times as being present in a number of foods, the FSAI said today, as well as false nails, small pieces of stone, metal and plastic.

Other reports to the FSAI included a snail in a whole chicken; a caterpillar in pork chops; and a butterfly or moth in fresh cream.

Advice line complaints regarding poor hygiene in food premises, meanwhile, cited live mice and evidence of rodent activity throughout food handling and storage areas; staff failing to wash their hands when cooking and serving food; pigeons in the deli area; and flies reported throughout a premises.

In 2019, the FSAI recorded a total of 8,964 queries from people working in the food service sector. 

Queries regarding legislation on food labelling requirements, requests for FSAI publications and information for new food businesses setting up operations were amongst the most common. 

FSAI Chief Executive Pamela Byrne said that the FSAI has now added a pest control FAQ to its website given the increase in complaints in 2019. 

“Pest control is critical because pests can carry harmful bacteria that can contaminate foods. This can cause illness or spoil food. Pests can also cause financial damage to food businesses and affect their reputation,” said Byrne. 

She added: “The figures from last year show that consumers too are becoming increasingly attentive as to how food establishments are expected to operate in terms of food safety in Ireland.

“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.”

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    Mute Marcas Ó Callanáin
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:17 PM

    That’s a nice touch, fair play to them.

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    Mute Michael League
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:11 PM

    Makes we wonder why they had a fake 1916 anniversary a few weeks ago. The dates were all wrong FFS!

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    Mute Ger Comings
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:15 PM

    FFS = ?

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    Mute Boganity
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:17 PM

    You have heard of a characterization Michael ?

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    Mute Damien McCormick
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:18 PM

    For feck sake or Fianna Fáil are shite

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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:20 PM

    Enda was worried that he wouldn’t get to play chief at the celebrations so he shifted it forward 6 weeks.

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    Mute Conor O'Callaghan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:31 PM

    @Michael – It is commonly known as the EASTER rising. Last month was the 100th EASTER since the EASTER rising. Hope this helps you, and the 500 billion commenters that have already pointed that out.

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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:41 PM

    It’s a bank Holiday weekend

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    Mute TheBull
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    Apr 25th 2016, 2:00 PM

    It’s celebrated at easter every year. Some people just love moaning though.

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    Mute Michael League
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    Apr 25th 2016, 3:52 PM

    Maybe the anniversary of something should be on the date it actually happened. But f*ck logic, right?

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    Mute Raymond Power
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    Apr 25th 2016, 4:05 PM

    Just as well known as the 1916 rising or even the Dublin rising.It happened to be at easter time but easter had no significance whatsoever. Maybe the “500 billion” are unaware of the significance of 100 years to the day..At 17:30 listen to the beeps..close your eyes and let math do the rest.

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    Mute Tom Gleeson
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:11 PM

    Easter had no significance? So your telling me they planned the rising for 24 April and it just happened to be Easter, silly Pearce not spotting that calender clash.

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    Mute Concerned Citizen
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:27 PM

    Any chance of a list of stations so I don’t miss it?

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    Mute RandomAct Of Kindnes
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    Apr 25th 2016, 2:16 PM

    “Irish Republic declared in Dublin today. Irish troops have captured city and are in full possession. Enemy cannot move in city. The whole country rising,” Written by James Connolly. transmitted by Marconi operator David Burke.

    If you miss it. this is the message that will be played

    https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/260318263%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-x9qEZ&color=ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false

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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Apr 25th 2016, 5:23 PM

    Radio Nova’s going to play it. Thanks, Google, for captioning group photos. Thanks, The Journal for the news!

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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:19 PM

    Sick to the back teeth of all the 1916 stuff now, can’t help but feeling it’s all totally disingenuous… while we have 100′s on hospital trollys, 500 kids in care who don’t have a social worker handling their case – we could go on & on.

    And all the while a bunch of ‘politicians’, more concerned with saving face and feathering nests than forming a government, who have the gall to present themselves as representatives of the people and of the state at these commemorations.

    It’s slightly ironic that on the 100 anniversary of independence, never before was the saying that the Irish can’t be trusted to govern themselves more true.

    Lets be honest, the men and women who gave up their lives in 1916 did it in vain, the only thing that really changed were the faces of the pigs at the trough weren’t they?

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    Mute Les Behan
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:25 PM

    Well said Eyepopper!

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    Mute Brendan Walsh
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:26 PM

    And yet in the Human Development Index, we are rated 6th best country in the world to live in. We all know it could be better but we’ve come a long way since we gained partial Independence.

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    Mute Ger Comings
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:32 PM

    Maybe Brendan – but not a good place to be ill in….

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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:35 PM

    Whereas the British mainland has stalled, still stuck with the same living conditions and quality of life they had in 1916?

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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:37 PM

    Tell one of those kids that was left in an abusive foster home that it’s one of the 6 best countries in the world to be abused.

    Tell the people on waiting lists and on trollies its the 6th best country in the world for medical treatment.

    Then tell them if they have enough money they can buy their way to the solutions to these problems.

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    Mute Sam Glynn
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:42 PM

    Completely concur Eyepopper, my relatives definitely died in vain :-( very sad but very true comment.

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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:43 PM

    It’s better to be screwed by a politician called Paddy than a lad called Clive

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    Mute Eyepopper
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    Apr 25th 2016, 2:52 PM

    I’ll bow to your experience Gerry, although I’d rather not be screwed at all if it can be helped.

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    Mute Shane Molloy
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:00 PM

    There you living, the Isle of Man ?

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    Mute Shane Molloy
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    Apr 25th 2016, 8:53 PM

    Well then do your bit to deliver on the Proclomation !

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    Mute THE BIG LAD
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:38 PM

    No Govt for the 100th Anniversary ….the lads will be up in arms at the pearly gates!!!

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    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:28 PM

    Nicely put eyepopper..every true word of it..hard to believe,that out of the hundred years since the rising..Enda Kenny has been hiding in the dail for 40 of them..accidental Taoiseach was never more apt..

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    Mute Tweed Cap
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    Apr 25th 2016, 1:42 PM

    I agree with you Eyepopper. I’m all nineteen sixteen’ed out myself at this stage. To think it was the forerunner to the two ar$ehole parties that were spawned not long after. They still can’t agree on anything right up to this very second.

    They are a disgrace to this nation despite the well intended and expensive commemorations. They’ve taken the gloss of the whole thing.

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    Mute Charles Mount
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    Apr 25th 2016, 7:12 PM

    Marconi broadcast from Ballycastle to Rathlin Island in 1898 and live broadcast the Kingstown Regatta the same year. He established a transmission station at Rosslare Strand and Clifden in 1901 and established a regular radio service at Clifden in 1907.

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    Mute Leo Lowe
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    Apr 25th 2016, 4:17 PM

    What a load of tripe.

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    Mute Shane Molloy
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    Apr 25th 2016, 6:10 PM

    Don’t worry “normal” will resume for you soon

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