Consumer complaints to FSAI advice line rise by 23%

Consumer complaints to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) jumped by nearly a quarter last year, with the majority of complaints relating to unfit food and hygiene standards.

Overall there were 6,135 complaints to the FSAI's advice line from consumers in 2025, which was a 23% rise on the previous year.

Just over 2,000 complaints last year related to unfit food, which is food that is not safe to eat or includes contamination with a foreign object.

Some of last year's complaints included a fingernail found in a cake; a staple found in an Indian meal; a battery found in a pack of almonds; a slug in a noodle dish; and a live moth in a bag of salad.

Meanwhile, nearly 1,700 complaints related to hygiene standards.

These complaints included rodents spotted in food businesses, staff not wearing appropriate clothing, and staff not washing hands or smoking in their aprons.

Around a quarter of complaints last year to the FSAI related to suspected food poisoning, which was a slight decrease on 2024 (29% in 2024 compared to 26% in 2025).

The FSAI said the figures reflect an upward trend over the past decade, adding that all complaints received were followed up and investigated by food inspectors.

Commenting on the findings, chief executive of the FSAI Greg Dempsey said the public reporting of food safety concerns "plays a vital role in supporting the work of the food safety inspectorate and is an important part of how we protect public health."

He added that complaints "allow us to quickly identify and respond to specific risks, ensuring that any potential threats to food safety are addressed without delay".

"The continued increase in engagement reflects growing consumer awareness and confidence in reporting issues, as well as a strong expectation that high standards of food safety and hygiene are consistently maintained across the food chain," Mr Dempsey said.

"In particular, we have seen a significant rise in complaints relating to unfit food and poor hygiene standards, and we would like to thank the public for their continued vigilance in helping us address these issues," he added.