Geckos and glass: the unexpected additives

More than 100 people complained about foreign objects in their food. Photo / Getty Images

Kiwis’ complaints about gross and dangerous extras in their food revealed

Consumers have been stopped in their tracks after discovering nasty surprises such as sticking plasters, metal and pieces of glass in their food.

Of the 589 food complaints made to the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) in the year-ended September 30, 2014, just over 100 related to consumers finding foreign objects in food, according to figures released under the Official Information Act. The number of complaints about foreign items fell 28 per cent from the previous period.

The majority of those unwanted items were hidden in mixed foods, which included dietary supplements, filled rolls and sandwiches, jelly, pizza, sauces and toppings, and sushi.

Meat and meat products had the second highest number of suspect items with 12 complaints.

MPI food team leader Melinda Sando said more foreign objects could have been in mixed foods due to the wide range of items it covered.

Of the complaints about foreign objects found lurking in food, 23 related to metal, 18 to glass, 12 to plastic and 10 were about pests. Thirty-nine were classed as 'other' which included items such as stones, string, cardboard and cigarette butts.

Waihi mother Sharyn Malcolm claimed to have found a gecko in a can of fruit salad in August when her son opened it for their afternoon tea.

Overall the number of food complaints made to the ministry dropped by just over 1 per cent compared to the same period last year. However, MPI said this could be due to no longer handling complaints related to food businesses with food control plans, which were now handled by councils.

Complaints about food labelling, health claims and sales of a drinking milk were also trending upwards, Ms Sando said.

There were also a large number of complaints from New Zealanders hit by tummy bugs as a quarter of all items were for bacterial illness and spoiled and undercooked food. However the number had dropped 30 per cent from last year.

Ms Sando said while the responsibility fell on food businesses to ensure food was safe, consumers could also protect themselves by reading labels carefully and checking date marks. They should also remember basic food safety rules, particularly as the weather got warmer, including washing and drying hands before and after handling food and to cook food such as poultry, meat patties and sausages thoroughly.

Waikato DHB medical officer of health Dr Felicity Dumble said at least 200,000 Kiwis were struck with food-borne illness each year and 40 per cent of that was due to poor food handling and storage at home.

Dr Dumble said people who got food poisoning should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, and rehydration drinks and sachets could also be used to help replace lost fluid and salts.

While it could usually be managed at home, medical attention should be sought if a child was unable to drink enough.