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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's important to let a supermarket know their product was mislabelled?

39 replies

Tadda · 16/10/2018 07:12

(I'll try and keep it brief but am a bit grrrr about this!)

I bought some 'Syrup' puddings from Tesco (two pack ones you microwave then turn out 'upside down') - but they weren't syrup, they were strawberry....checked the ingredients etc but were definitely not supposed to contain that ingredient, so a packaging error)

I e-mailed them straight away to let them know (A friend of mine has an allergy to Strawberry) as I thought it may be important (If I hadn't had turned them out I wouldn't have known), but they really couldn't have cared less, and infact made a joke how it must have been 'a shock' to get a 'surprise' ingredient....!? I said it certainly would have been a 'shock' if I'd have had an allergic reaction to said 'surprise' ingredient....

Anyway, after a few more e-mails they asked me to send some pictures of the packaging so they could let their packaging department know, then issued what they called a 'good will gesture' of £1.90 (the cost of the incorrect product we didn't consume) and said they wouldn't be recalling the product....they were actually quite rude in their responses, not a 'thank you for informing us or an apology'...?

AIBU to be a bit pissed off they didn't take this slightly more seriously?

OP posts:
AGHHHH · 16/10/2018 07:14

Given the Pret controversy recently you'd think they'd be treating something like this more seriously.

As you say, people will start to eat it expecting it to to be syrup and if they're allergic then... Well fuck.

JustJoinedRightNow · 16/10/2018 07:15

Tell them on Facebook and Twitter - that will get a better reply

shakeyourcaboose · 16/10/2018 07:15

Tadda, is this an own brand one? My friend's child is allergic to strawberries and while unlikely they will get these just wanted to warn her!

claraschu · 16/10/2018 07:16

So the puddings contained strawberry, but it wasn't listed among the ingredients? That is really bad.

OpenThatTrapDoor · 16/10/2018 07:17

Really surprised at their response, that’s not good.
I’ve returned a couple of things over the years with packaging issues and have had very thorough, apologetic responses.

Original poster
Tadda · 16/10/2018 07:18

That's exactly what I thought AGHH! But honestly they really couldn't have cared less...?! I asked if they would be informing the public or recalling and they said no?? But 'ensured' me they'd contact their 'packaging' department....?

OP posts:
Monty27 · 16/10/2018 07:18

Do you have pics? If so I share here and everywhere else Biscuit

Original poster
Tadda · 16/10/2018 07:20

Shakey - yes they were own brand ones

OP posts:
treaclesoda · 16/10/2018 07:23

I'd expect them to take it more seriously due to allergies. But at least with strawberries you'd be able to see them.

But still. It's not a great response.

bizzers · 16/10/2018 07:25

That's terrible! Have you got a Twitter account? I would send them a tweet, they always take those quite seriously when they know how many other people will see it!

ConfusedMum82 · 16/10/2018 07:25

I had the same with Morrisons, they really didn't give a shite. Bought some chicken Kievs with herb butter, cooked them and they had a curry stuff inside.
I was really annoyed as I had cooked them for the kids, and if I hadn't cut one in half for DS, he would've eaten something he is very allergic to.
Explained it all to Morrisons and their attitude was pics or it didn't happen. Kept saying they have stringent quality control.
I changed supermarkets after that.

Original poster
Tadda · 16/10/2018 07:25

Treacle - You would only see it was strawberry if you turned it upside down, and smelt and tasted it

OP posts:
Underpressureidiot · 16/10/2018 07:27

Put it on their Facebook but as the first word put UNLABLED ALLERGEN WARNING. That will get their attention. Also maybe tag in anaphylaxis U.K. or similar, I’m sure many food allergy groups will want to put a warning out to their members, this is appalling.

LittleCandle · 16/10/2018 07:29

Tweeting works better in these cases, which it shouldn't. All complaints should be taken seriously, especially about allergies and even more so in the light of what happened at Pret-A-Manger. If you don't have Twitter yourself, get someone else to tweet about it. Their response was extremely poor. Would it be worth contacting the Food Standards Agency, too?

gaggiagirl · 16/10/2018 07:33

I've had a similar issue in two supermarkets in the past and not a single fuck could be given by them. I was made to feel like a lunatic by them for pointing out a potential danger.

Original poster
Tadda · 16/10/2018 07:35

No I don't go on twitter but will ask a friend to put up on there - Glad I've at least posted on here its just been on my mind that someone might have been less fortunate, not checked and had a reaction to this (as previous poster mentioned you'd have thought allergies, mislabeling etc would be taken more seriously)

OP posts:
Tinkobell · 16/10/2018 07:43

Write back. Say the response is lame and could put lives at real risk. Contact trading standards.

Ochayethenoocoo · 16/10/2018 07:43

Years ago I was drinking milk from Tesco... suddenly felt something in my mouth. It was a corner off a plastic sack. I took it to the shop and complained. They weren't very interested. I mentioned to the lady at customer services that a child could have choked on it. Her response: well a child shouldn't be drinking skimmed milk.
I got a tenner in vouchers.

bizzers · 16/10/2018 07:44

@Tadda Good idea! Make sure she '@'s Tesco so that they see it!

Biancadelriosback · 16/10/2018 07:44

I would reply and mention the pret thing. Something like "I thought you would take this more seriously than you have, especially following the tragedy surrounding the labelling issues with pret. The person the dessert was intended for has a strawberry allergy and this potentially could have been fatal. I believe that your customers have a right to know and I couldn't live with myself if I said nothing and someone ended up ill or worse due to yet another labelling issue. I look forward to your response"

briefinterlude · 16/10/2018 07:46

Tesco are appalling for this...we found a tooth (yes an actual tooth) in a dip pack -own brand - and after I really kicked off we were sent a £10 voucher.

Ochayethenoocoo · 16/10/2018 07:58

Tesco once also stole my money. I had paid with a 20. The checkout woman gave me change of a 10. I was so poor that was all the money I had available till I got paid and I needed petrol. I asked for the manager. I was very relaxed and polite at this point as I was sure they'd sort it. She came and said they couldn't give me the change until they'd cashed up the till and checked the balance. She said she'd need me to come back the next day which I couldn't do without the petrol as it was a half hour drive. I started getting angry which didn't help. She got arsey when i said the checkout woman was useless... Which she was. Then I cried.
Eventually she said she'd give me the tenner but that if the till wasn't right I was essentially stealing. Which then made me not want to take it after all as I felt she was accusing me.
It was a major head fuck.
Eventually I got the tenner and said I would be expecting a call to apologise when they found the till to be ten over.
She didn't call so I made a point of contacting. Turns out yes the till was over and it was ny tenner but she kept grudgingly excusing their actions by saying I could have been making it up.

ButtPlugInMyHalloweenHaul · 16/10/2018 08:02

Tesco seems to have really gone downhill. Our local one went through a stage of being really dirty. This lasted well over a year. It's a bit better now but I drifted away and have never gone back. Getting vouchers for stuff I never ever buy didn't help.

Munchmallow · 16/10/2018 08:04

Please contact Trading Standards OP.

@briefinterlude that put me right off my breakfast!

Cagliostro · 16/10/2018 08:08

Wow that’s awful. Have they not seen the news lately? Strawberry is a well known allergen FFS (although any unlabelled ingredient is awful of course)

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