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.
Meat
Skin, bone
Products made from meat and/or poultry may contain small bones, skin, hair, bristles or parts of blood vessels. These are unsightly but rarely a health hazard, as they are normal parts of the original animal.
No public health risk
Action: Contact retailer
Fish
Glowing fish
Luminous bacteria can sometimes be found on seafood. Seafood such as crabmeat, cooked shrimp, prawns and simulated seafood products made from surimi are the most common seafoods associated with luminescence or glowing.
When seafood glows it means that luminous bacteria are present. It does not mean the seafood is unsafe or of low quality. There are no reports of illness from luminous marine bacteria growing on seafood.
No public health risk
Action: Contact retailer
Codworm
White fish such as cod or haddock may be infested with a small, round brownish yellow worm. These are found in the flesh. They are killed by cooking and are harmless to humans. The affected parts of the fish are usually cut away, but some may be overlooked.
No public health risk
Action: Contact retailer
Glass-like Crystals
Certain naturally occurring elements commonly found in fish may develop into hard crystals during the canning process.
These crystals may be mistaken for glass fragments and are called struvite. They are not harmful and will be broken down by stomach acids if swallowed. It is especially common in tinned salmon. Struvite crystals will dissolve if placed in vinegar and gently heated - glass will not.
No public health risk
Action: Contact retailer if struvite, Environmental Health if glass
