We need your help now Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open. You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough. If you’ve seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it. One-off amount I already contribute Sign in. It’s quick, free
and it’s up to you. An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more. Investigates Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Climate Crisis Cost of Living Road Safety Newsletters Temperature Check Inside the Newsroom The Journal Investigates Daft.ie Property Allianz Home The 42 Sport TG4 Entertainment Domino’s Best of the Box The Explainer A deep dive into one big news story Sport meets news, current affairs, society & pop culture have your say Or create a free account to
join the discussion Advertisement More Stories Stock photo of an all-you-can-eat buffet.Alamy Stock Photo Food Safety Authority of Ireland A fingernail in a cake and a slug found in a noodle dish: complaints made to the FSAI in 2025 There has been an increase of 23% in consumer complaints to the FSAI compared to last year. 12.51pm, 30 Jun 2026 Share options A FINGERNAIL FOUND in a cake, a battery found in a pack of almonds and a slug in a noddle dish: these are
just three of the complaints and queries that were handled by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) in 2025. In total, the FSAI handled 9,882 complaints, with 6,135 of those complaints coming from consumers. This is a 23% increase in the number of consumer complaints from 2024. 33% of complaints related to unfit food while 28% of complaints were about poor hygiene standards. Unfit food refers to food that is not safe to eat and this was the most frequently reported complaint last year.
This category also includes food that has been contaminated with a foreign object. Other examples of unfit food complaints include a fly floating in a milk bottle, a staple found in an Indian meal and a live moth in a bag of salad. Advertisement Poor hygiene practices The second most frequently reported category were about poor hygiene practices. Common complaints under this category included rodents being spotted in food businesses, staff not wearing appropriate clothing and staff smoking in their aprons. Food being stored incorrectly
with freezers and fridges not being cold enough also appeared on the list of complaints the FSAI received. Meanwhile, food poisoning was the third most frequently reported category in 2025, making up 26% of total complaints. Greg Dempsey, Chief Executive of the FSAI, said that 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 the organisation protects public health. “We greatly value the contribution of consumers in bringing
potential issues to our attention, as these reports provide essential information that complements the work of Environmental Health Officers, veterinary and agricultural inspectors, sea-fisheries officers, and laboratory services,” he said. “While routine inspections and food sampling programmes remain a core part of our regulatory activity, complaints allow us to quickly identify and respond to specific risks, ensuring that any potential threats to food safety are addressed without delay.” Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone. A mix of advertising and supporting contributions
helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Support The Journal Conor Brummell Viewcomments Send Tip or Correction Embed this post To embed this post, copy the code below on your site Email “A fingernail in a cake and a slug found in a noodle dish: complaints made to the FSAI in 2025”. Recipient’s Email Feedback on “A fingernail in a cake and
a slug found in a noodle dish: complaints made to the FSAI in 2025”. Your Feedback Your Email (optional) Report a Comment Please select the reason for reporting this comment. Please give full details of the problem with the comment. This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy before taking part. Leave a Comment Submit a report Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines. Damaging the good reputation of someone,
slander, or libel. Racism or Hate speech An attack on an individual or group based on religion, race, gender, or beliefs. Trolling or Off-topic An attempt to derail the discussion. Inappropriate language Profanity, obscenity, vulgarity, or slurs. Advertising, phishing, scamming, bots, or repetitive posts. Please provide additional information Thank you for the feedback Your feedback has been sent to our team for review. Leave a commentcancel Name not provided Newly created accounts can only comment using The Journal app. This is to add an extra
layer of security to account creation. Download and sign into the app to continue. Access to the comments facility has been disabled for this user View our policy ⚠️ Duplicate comment Post Comment have your say Or create a free account to join the discussion consumer complaints Food Hygiene Food Safety Food Safety Authority of Ireland Public Health News in 60 seconds InvestigatesSuicide forums The suicide forum facilitating the deaths of vulnerable people in Ireland Patricia Devlin Teeth whitening products sold online may contain unsafe
levels of bleach, consumer watchdog warns 15 mins ago Simon Harris Harris says petrol stations should ‘pass on’ falling oil prices as excise duty to be restored Perspectives Want a ‘Letter to the Editor’ published on The Journal? The Daily Poll Have you read any of the Boys of Tommen books? Teenager dies after falling from e-scooter in Carlow, as two injured in separate Dublin incident rural ireland Cabinet set to sign off on plan to make it easier for locals to build homes in
their own areas Christina Finn fatal collision Three Westmeath people killed in crash near Malaga named locally Talbot Street Man (40s) arrested after fire at Islamic prayer hall in Dublin city centre And Justice For All Metallica donates €80,000 to two Irish charities as it leaves Dublin after Aviva gigs Man drowned after falling into dock despite friend holding his head above water for 40 minutes more from us Investigates Money Diaries The Journal TV Journal Media Advertise With Us Gender Pay Gap Report ’25
About FactCheck Our Network FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition more from us TV Listings GAA Fixtures The Video Review Journal Media Advertise With Us Gender Pay Gap Report ’25 Our Network The Journal FactCheck Knowledge Bank Terms & Legal Notices Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition © 2026 Journal Media Ltd Terms of Use Cookies & Privacy Advertising Competition Switch to Desktop Switch to Mobile The Journal supports the work of the Press
Council of Ireland and the Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at https://www.presscouncil.ie, PH: (01) 6489130, Lo-Call 1800 208 080 or email: mailto:info@presscouncil.ie Report an error, omission or problem: Your Email (optional) Create Email Alert Create an email alert based on the current article Email Address One email every morning As soon as new articles come online
Food Safety Authority of Ireland, FSAI, consumer complaints, 2025, unfit food, poor hygiene, foreign objects, food poisoning, public health