What would you expect from a food retailer that mislablled something and as a result you've eaten pork when you don't eat pork?

[AccidentallyPorked]

As title really.

I am veggie (have been for about 40 years) but even if I wasn't, I wouldn't eat pork or shellfish for religious reasons.

Bought a valentine's meal as a treat with an online shop and chose the options labelled as vegetarian with a green V for each course. As it was online I didn't read the packets! We then ate it also without reading the ingredients on the packet.

Then got an email the next day saying one option had actually contained pork and been mislabelled. I was given a refund for the exact cost of the product.

I have felt slightly queasy for days whenever I think about it - obviously I know it hasn't made me ill but the thought of eating pork turns my stomach. I never knowingly have before and it's really put me off buying ready prepared food again, usually I cook from scratch but we have been so busy and couldn't afford a meal out so just thought this would be a nice treat!

Would you complain?

Nothing except a refund and apology.

A horrible thing to happen.

But I think given that they contacted YOU to tell you what had happened that kind of pre-empts the need to complain. They already know what they did wrong and are refunding. I hope it came with a sincere apology?

And in truth - if they hadn't confessed, would you have known? Of course you feel icky thinking about it now you do know, but it sounds as if it wasn't obvious in the dish?

Sorry this happened though.

The proactive email and the refund seem fine to me.

Hmmm.

this is the kind of thing that has the potential to be a very bad mistake in terms of reputation.

I’m slightly surprised they didn’t offer more (at least a grovelling apology email) as it’s the sort of thing that could easily blow up if it got into socudd as L media etc.

They contacted you so they are obviously aware of the issue and have most likely issued a recall. Trading Standards/Food Authority are probably aware too.
Food manufacturers take these things seriously and they will be investigating how it happened.
They have apologised and refunded you. I am not sure what else you would want.
If you are struggling with the religious side then go and talk to your Rabbi (I am assuming you are Jewish - apologies if I am wrong).

I'm surprised they didn't offer more as it would be more serious for some, but given you weren't aware and have suffered no ill effects I'd move on.

I've been vegetarian since 1988. Around 1992 Burger King gave me a regular burger instead of a spicy bean burger. I realised after one bite, they swapped it for the correct burger and said they were sorry. Some 34 years later I'm alive and suffering no ill effects from the unfortunate incident. I'm sure you'll be just fine as well.

Yes definitely complain, that’s awful (and I am not veggie and do eat pork)

I wouldn’t expect anything else.

I don’t eat pork for the same reasons, and I massively sympathise, but mistakes do happen.

An apology and a refund seem fair: if there was a sum of money that would make things right, what price ethics? £20? £50? £1000? It’s happened, they’ve apologised, it’s not ideal and you wouldn’t have chosen it, but I suspect it’s not the first time, even if you weren’t aware of previous events.

💐 for you OP - I’m sure that was quite upsetting. Sometimes it’s better not to know!

I had this happen to me years ago. You didn't deliberately eat it and they have refunded you. It was a mistake.

Refund and apology sounds proportionate for a one off.

Trading standards involvement for reoccurring issues.

I’m surprised you weren't violently ill, to be honest.

Yes, definitely complain. I’d expect some compensation rather than just a refund!

DH has been vegetarian for over 50 years. A few years ago he accidentally ate a pork product on holiday and was seriously ill (D&V) for several days and it ruined our holiday.

When you don’t eat meat normally, you won’t have the right digestive enzymes in your system to deal with it.

Obviously, if you were seriously allergic to pork, it could have had even more serious consequences.

Send your complaint higher up their food chain!

I dont eat pork as a Muslim and even i didnt as a Christian.

Id just expect an apology and a refund. I'd also feel quite sick that I ate pork but id get over it. Worser things going in the world.

You suffered no harm. So refund and apology should be enough.

This

I’d not expect anything, mistakes happen and no real harm has come to you beyond feeling grossed out by it (understandable). But pork isn’t one of the common allergens to my knowledge so other than dietary preferences it’s not caused ‘harm’ to you. Would be different if it was an allergy but yours is a preference.
Sorry you accidentally ate pork though and I’m glad they emailed you and refunded.

In your case the email acknowledging the mistake and the refund would be enough for me. If the company had not of emailed you then you wouldn’t have been none the wiser. I stopped eating dairy for 4 years and always read packets, every time! Even things labelled vegan I still read just incase. You had a chance when ordering to read the ingredients and you had the chance to read the ingredients before putting it in the oven and you didn’t. It’s a very big mistake to make by the company and for some it could be more serious than feeling sick at the thought of eating it but had you of read the ingredients you’d of seen pork.

Im a life long veggie ,
happened to me in Nando’s , chicken burger , they apologised profusely and refunded me , apology accepted , & I thought no more of it ,
I think with allergies they have to be extremely careful and you could be talking compensation but if there’s no medical reason why you can’t have pork , I’m not so sure . What exactly are you looking for as a solution , maybe present that to them ? You have nothing to lose I guess .

What more do you want.

Thinking about it I would probably push for the entire cost of the meal deal , £15 /£20 , would be surprised if they refuse . Which supermarket was it ?

What outcome would you consider appropriate?

You could email them with not so much a complaint as laying out that you understand it was an accident and appreciate they were honest about it but it's genuinely upset you as it's against your deep held principles. Nothing further to be done, but at least you've said it to them.

I'd expect a refund and maybe a few quid extra on a voucher for the inconvenience.

If it was mislabelled then it's fully their fault. If you just failed to read the packaging then it's more your own fault. So I would probably just ask for a refund.

i think the best you can hope for is that the company have got external auditors in to check their processes so this doesn't happen again, and a "lessons learned".
You could ask them?