What can you find in Irish food? Dead rodents and insects if you’re really unlucky

If you are of a nervous disposition look away now as we break down the latest findings of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI).

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So, the Food Safety Authority Report, a good lunchtime read?

Dear God no. It contains details of 11,166 complaints and queries made to the body in 2011 and while the majority were minor, some were fairly gruesome.

Go on, I am made of strong stuff.

Okay, well there was a dead rodent found in a bag of bananas, which is not what you want as you go looking for one of your five-a-day.

True, anything else?

Well the worst stuff was actually found in food. The report states that foreign objects in food were “frequently” in complaints submitted. Some of the objects found include “live and dead insects; a tooth; a false nail; pieces of metal; plastic rubber tubing; and a plaster.”

A bolt, complete with a nut and washer was also found in a meatball. Not quite like Mama used to make.

That’s just lovely. What else were people complaining about?

Well, pretty much everything really from staff not washing their hands to best-before dates not being clearly displayed. In total there were 2,415 complaints recorded by the FSAI in 2011.

Almost a thousand (966) were about unfit food, 497 complaints were about suspected food poisoning, 446 about hygiene standards, 137 about incorrect information on food labels, 37 about incorrect advertising and 332 other complaints.

Sounds like a lot, is the standard of food here getting worse?

Probably not. Though the number of complaints is up 13 per cent from last year, the FSAI believe this is down to us, the great Irish public, complaining a bit more.

Well, if I found a tooth in my dinner, I would complain.

Of course, but the FSAI launched an initiative last year to get us to complain a bit more, called ‘See Something, Say Something’ and they believe that has been the driving force behind the increase.

So this is good news really, more dodgy places being found and dealt with.

Yes, but we can’t help thinking of all the meals we may have had where we didn’t see something, but it was lurking there anyway.

Sure you can’t think like that, you would never go out. By the way, if I do spot a slug in my salad or a hair in my hummus, where do I go?

Well the FSAI are available by phone and e-mail and a complaint form is on their website too. They even have a Facebook page if you want all the latest Food Safety news.

I have enough weird stuff on my Facebook timeline without that.

Fair enough, just letting you know. Enjoy your dinner.