Food Unfit For Consumption

[DSJ]

I bought a pack of to small microwavable sponge puddings at a supermarket recently. The were packaged in a cardboard sleeve so I could not see inside until I came to open them. One was fine but the other was a disgusting shade of green and black, quite obviously contaminated in some way. I did not remove the film seals on either pudding. The 'use by' is Jan 2015.

I do not want to return this purchase to the supermarket. They will just offer me another pack or give me a refund. I want these puddings properly examined for contamination. The supermarket would not have known that this product was unfit for consumption because the puddings were covered by the cardboard sleeve.

I e-mailed the manufacturers last Friday morning to make them aware of the situation. I offered to return both puddings (and the cardboard sleeve) to them for examination. I have heard nothing at all from them so I now want to take this further.

Can anyone tell me where I should go for advice?

[mrs_overall]

Try the Environmental Health Dept of your local council

[Robinia]

Last Friday, 7th Feb? No company seems to reply to an email in less than a week to 12 days...is there a telephone number?
Otherwise parcel them up and send them off.

[DSJ]

There isn't a full address or phone number on the cardboard sleeve, only an e-mail address.

I'll look up the number of Environmental Health Department & see what they suggest.

Thank you both.

[Robinia]

Have you googled the makers DSJ? You might find them along with contact addresses and phone numbers.

[bhg481]

Photograph them and the packaging and make sure the sell-by date is visible NOW. If people drag their feet the evidence will disappear. Any digital photos you take will have a date/time stamp hidden in the file, so make sure the date/time is set on your camera before you take the photos.

[gingejbee]

Contamination? It's almost certain that the problem is mould growth caused by faulty packaging...the film hasn't sealed properly, so that pudding was not air-tight.
There is no "contamination" (as such)...the product left the factory in good condition, but mould grew because of poor package integrity. It happens quite often when products aren't "sealed" properly.

[boxtops]

Last Friday? It's only Monday today!

[DSJ]

Thank you all for your suggestions. I photographed the puddings on Friday along with the cardboard sleeve. All are sealed in an airtight container. The 'use by' date is clearly visible on the sleeve.

[237SJ]

I would just take them back to the supermarket as your contract is with them. I took some turkey sausages back to a supermarket when I was really ill after eating them and they sent them to their laboratory for investigation. If there is a problem, the supermarket will make the manufacturer aware of it and they probably have more "clout" than you.

[DSJ]

OK, thanks.