How to make a complaint about food - advice about the most common complaints we receive about foreign objects in food, with the action you should take.
This advice can also be downloaded as a leaflet in PDF format below.
Stones, Soil and Slugs
Fruit and vegetables commonly have soil, stones or small slugs adhering to them. This is quite normal as they originate in the soil.
No public health risk
Action: wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly
Greenfly
Salad vegetables, especially lettuce, may have greenfly attached. This is becoming increasingly common as the use of pesticides decreases.
Greenfly are difficult to wash off but they are not harmful. In fact, they demonstrate that the salad is fresh.
No public health risk
Action: no action required
Mould
Mould growth will naturally occur when fruit and vegetables become damaged and bruised, or if stored for too long. We recommend that you check produce before purchase.
No public health risk
Action: Dispose of mouldy produce
Fruit and Vegetables - Healthy Eating
For more information about eating fruit and vegetables, the health benefits, and shopping locally for fresh produce, go to our 5 a Day page in the Healthy Eating section - see Related Pages.
