Monday, 9 February 2015

The number of queries handled by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland’s Advice Line increased by 8% in 2014, as compared with the previous year.  Of the 14,348 queries and complaints, 2,738 related to complaints by consumers about food and food premises, while 11,604 included requests for advice from food businesses across a range of food related areas. The FSAI states that the increased activity reflects a demand among food businesses for information about labelling requirements and resources for food business start-ups, as well as a growing awareness among consumers of the need to report poor hygiene practice.

Consumer complaints ranged from reports of food unfit to eat, to inaccurate labelling:

• 1,199 complaints on unfit food

• 529 complaints on suspect food poisoning

• 566 complaints on hygiene standards

• 175 complaints on incorrect information on food labelling

Contamination of food with foreign objects was frequently reported by consumers.  In 2014, these reports included allegations of food contaminated with dead maggots and glass, as well as other foreign objects. For example, a razor blade found in minced meat; a cigarette found in a fruit brack; a fly found in a jar of marmalade; an insect in an apple tart; the tip of an knife found in spare ribs; wire in takeaway food and a metal bolt found in a tin of grapefruit.  All complaints received by the FSAI were followed up and investigated by the HSE’s environmental health officers throughout the country.

Calls to the FSAI’s Advice Line seeking advice (11,604) showed a dramatic increase in requests for information on food labelling (up 100% on 2013), coinciding with the introduction of new laws requiring the labelling of specific allergens on all loose food.  Other key areas of advice sought included information on new business startups, training, standards and legislation, as well as requests for FSAI publications.  

Edel Smyth, Information Manager, FSAI states: “Consumers have become more vigilant in recent years and are now much more likely to report poor hygiene or food safety standards that they encounter. This is a welcome development and we continue to encourage anyone who has had a bad experience to report the matter to us so that the issue can be investigated directly.”

    “Poor standards are often the result of inadequate staff training and a failure to follow best practices to safeguard customers’ health.  This is inexcusable given the substantial information and resources available to assist food businesses,” says Ms Smyth.  “Our Advice Line is an important resource for the food industry where our experts are available to assist food business owners and managers raise their standards with the best available advice.  We urge food businesses to take full advantage of the information and support provided to ensure they reach their food safety legal requirements.”

Of the 14,348 requests to the FSAI Advice Line in 2014, approximately 50% were received by telephone and 30% were received by email. The remainder resulted from the FSAI’s website, which is proving an increasing popular source of content; walk-ins, attendance at exhibitions, staff requests and through the FSAI’s facebook and Twitter pages.

The FSAI Advice Line, which operates from 9am to 5pm weekdays, is manned by trained advisors and food scientists and can be reached on lo-call 1890 336677.  Alternatively, anyone can email their enquiry to info@fsai.ie or through the ‘make a complaint’ section of the FSAI website.  The FSAI facebook and Twitter pages are also resources with up-to-the-minute information in relation food safety: www.facebook.com/FSAI and @FSAIinfo.