metal in birdseye chicken dipper & 18month old

[Notahappybunny1982]

Last Friday I was struggling for time and cooked 3 Birdseye chicken dippers (along with other bits) for my 18month old daughter’s dinner.
Luckily I am still cutting her food up for her, as cutting into the first dipper I came across a shard of metal. It was just under 1cm long but had a very sharp point to it and who knows what damage it could have done if ingested.
I immediately phoned the careline and got an answer machine assuring me my enquiry would be responded to ASAP. This was at 4:30pm, albeit on a lovely hot Friday afternoon.
I followed it up with an email.
No response.
No response and on Tuesday morning, 4 days later, I called again.
I was told messages take 48hrs for a response. I kicked off slightly. My 18mth old daughter could have been hurt and an older child or adult would have almost definitely consumed it. The lady was not bothered in the slightest. Apparently they are sending a sample bag to me, which I am yet to receive! I ask about the potential contamination of the batch, she couldn’t answer me.
They clearly aren’t concerned in the slightest about their customers and their safety. The product is aimed at children (a MN approved no less!). AIBU for thinking that their procedure when dealing with potentially harmful foreign bodies is appalling?!

I wouldn't send it to them. It'll vanish. I think it's environmental health you want to report to, but I expect someone who knows for sure will be along.
Had the company taken it seriously you might want to give them a chance but this is very dangerous and they're not taking it seriously

Its Trading Standards you want, not Environmental Health. Call your local office (it will be listed with the council)

Yes, don’t send it to the company. I sent something similar to environmental health (I think), and they investigated it from a food safety perspective.

Have you commented anything on their Twitter or FB feed? They should step up pronto if you make your complaint public.

Keep the box as they will need the batch number. I deal with this stuff all the time. They really should be all over you taking information and assuring you. Pretty shocking to be fair. Trading standards and take photos.

We had a whole fish hook in a piece of haddock from Waitrose. Again, not terribly speedy ( very slow) in their response and I had to chase and chase. After a lot of pushing it was deemed ‘not their fault but that of their supplier’ as if that makes any difference when it’s down your throat.

We finally got a £50 voucher but no proper apology. Report and don’t engage.

Thanks for everyone’s advice. I will contact TS tomorrow. I still have the packet and the metal piece. I’m just so shocked that such a large company has such a relaxed attitude!

@MatildaTheCat that’s awful! You must have felt very lucky to find it. It could have been very nasty.

Do'n't forget to take pics for your records