Consumer Advice - what to do if you suspect a problem with food products

There are a large number of different problems that can be associated with food products. Some examples include:

• Your hamburger has a strip of plastic inside
• The canned peas contain a foreign object such as a metal washer
•  A piece of glass was in your bowl of cereal
•  You think a takeaway meal made you ill

Thankfully problems of this kind are relatively uncommon.

What should I do if I suspect a problem?

If you suspect a problem with a food product it should not be eaten and you should:

Make a formal complaint to your Relevant Food or Health Authority  in Australia.

Upon contacting the relevant authority, it is important that you have the following information available where relevant:

•  Your name, address and phone number
•  The brand name, food product name and manufacturer of the food product
• The size and package type
• Package codes and dates
• Name and location of the store and the date you purchased the food product

Investigation of food complaints

To help maintain the safety of the food we eat, Food and Health Authorities in Australia investigate food complaints. Depending on the nature of the problem, action may be taken to ensure the continuing safety of the food supply. For example, authorities will work with food producers to resolve the problem or they may order the recall of affected food.

It should be noted that the Australian food supply is amongst the safest in the world and that only a very small number of food complaints result in the recall of a food.

What should I do if I fall ill?

Food poisoning can be particularly serious in children, the elderly, pregnant women and people who are immuno-compromised (e.g. cancer and AIDS patients). If you or someone under your care falls ill, it is important that you seek medical attention at the earliest possible time. If you think that your illness is related to food you have eaten, you should tell this to your doctor. Remember that many food poisoning bugs take a while to take effect. Often the last meal may not be the culprit, as sometimes food poisoning symptoms may not appear for many hours and sometimes days.

What items should I retain?

In order for the Food or Health Authority to most effectively investigate a food problem the following items should be retained:

• The original container or packaging
• The foreign object (e.g. metal washer that you found in the food), if relevant
• Refrigerate any uneaten portion of the food

What is FSANZ’s role in relation to food recalls in Australia?

FSANZ’s role is to coordinate at a national level the distribution of information in relation to food recalls to State and Territory Authorities, other government agencies and industry.

Contact details

If you require additional information regarding food recalls in Australia please contact FSANZ on (02) 6271 2610 or email recall@foodstandards.gov.au