The Mint With the H...
 

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[Closed] The Mint With the Hole

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Bought some Polos the other day, ate the first one and thought it tasted weird - a bit bitter with a funny texture. Looked in the packet and their was a maggot chrysalis inside it!

Took pics of it and contacted Boots (the retailer) and Nestlé. Both seem rather concerned, and rightly so, but who is my beef with? The retailer or the manufacturer?

[IMG] [/IMG]


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:03 pm
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ahhhh i have some polos in my car, i didnt have this problem. have you considered it might be you that is the problem?

lets ask other STWers, has anybody else had this problem?

😛


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:04 pm
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There's probably a real, legal answer to your question, but TBH, I would probably have a beef with both.

That's just sick. 😯


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:04 pm
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I once found an apricot with a LIVE ant inside.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:06 pm
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But your beef is with the manufacturer - the retailer couldn't reasonably have expected to think there was a caster in your packet of Polos, whereas the manufacturer should have checks in place to ensure their confectionary doesn't have casters in it.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:08 pm
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I thought so Mastiles... I've sent the packet back to them as per their instructions - might not have been the best thing to do, but the caster is in a bin. The photos are enough evidence I would imagine...

Boots wanted me to send it to them too...


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:10 pm
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Boots have just replied to say that they'll work closely with Nestlé on this matter, but I think they're more than happy to let them carry the can...


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:13 pm
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sealed packet? manufacturer fault


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:16 pm
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My ex once found a sharp piece of metal in a box of cornflakes. Kelloggs said "Thanks" and sent them a voucher for ONE box of cornflakes.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:17 pm
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My ex once found a sharp piece of metal in a box of cornflakes. Kelloggs said "Thanks" and sent them a voucher for ONE box of cornflakes.

Did you ex suffer any harm? Why would he/she expect anything else?


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:18 pm
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What's worse than finding a maggot chrysalis in your Polo mint?
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Finding half a maggot chrysalis! 😯

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:19 pm
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You should have bought the fruity Polos, you would have got one of your five a day if you had.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:20 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:21 pm
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contact your local environmental health.

if you hand them back to boots or polo people they won't be seen again.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:22 pm
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I don't think there's any long-term harm to my health, but I did "eat my breakfast backwards" on the concourse outside Euston Station which was rather embarrassing to say the least...


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:23 pm
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You need to buy some more

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/POLO-MINTS-/180732070440#ht_500wt_1202


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:23 pm
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Imabigkidnow - Member

sealed packet? manufacturer fault

I can see how this could become a grey area. The "seal" is only crimped foil - wouldn't be too difficult for a maggot to wriggle his way in...


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:25 pm
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IIRC from my brief period doing law at college, your beef is actually with the retailer - it's the people who sold it to you that you hold responsible.
BUT - for maximum hush money, take it up with the manufacturer. Send photo, not sweets, and include the words "envoirinmental health" and "great distress" several times in the letter.

envoirinmental
..and you might want spell check that word


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 3:26 pm
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Take it to the tabloids!!!!

And don't forget to be holding a small and inconsolably sad child in your arms in the photoshoot.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:05 pm
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With faulty goods generally, your legal contract is with the retailer. It's their responsibility to rectify any issues, dealing with the manufacturer on your behalf as necessary.

With something like this though, you're not pursuing a claim of "well, I bought a pack of mints, and they didn't work so I'd like a new one" so I don't think consumer trading laws are your best redress. Dealing direct with the manufacturer must be the only sensible option here, shirley.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:07 pm
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Did you ex suffer any harm? Why would he/she expect anything else?

This+1

Reassurance that it won't happen again = good.
Compo = paulos crunchy nuts costing more(bad)


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:16 pm
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We've had similar -

A load of vouchers for this, from 2002
(It was meant to be veggie, too!)

[url= http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1241/4721634401_9fc425f7f8_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1241/4721634401_9fc425f7f8_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/4721634401/ ]DSCF0300[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr

And Mrs PP found this in her mouth after her last swig of Peroni. Free case of beer. Although they claimed it was MOULD, not glass!

[url= http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/5442416952_c2ded69cac_b.jp g" target="_blank">http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/5442416952_c2ded69cac_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/peter_atkin/5442416952/ ]IMG_0899[/url] by [url= http://www.flickr.com/people/peter_atkin/ ]PeterPoddy[/url], on Flickr


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:27 pm
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The "seal" is only crimped foil - wouldn't be too difficult for a maggot to wriggle his way in...

No reason why it would though. Maggots eat meat, not Polos


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:30 pm
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I'm no suprised by the polo, you'll get a voucher. Take it any further and you'll probably get threatened by Nestle lawyers.

Can't see how that maggot got in there other than deliberately. Knowing what I do about food production lines I would say it was virtually impossible to happen accidentally...


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:33 pm
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jonba - Member

Can't see how that maggot got in there other than deliberately. Knowing what I do about food production lines I would say it was virtually impossible to happen accidentally...

It was quite obvious it had been there a while, it had left its mess inside the mints. Could it have got in their as an egg and hatched? In my experience of maggots from my fishing days, they don't need a food source to turn into casters - they hatch with a little black food sack visible beneath the skin...


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:54 pm
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sorry that was the maggot in the korma, I know less about polos/dry foods than I do about putting liquids in containers.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 4:59 pm
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I complained a few years back when i got a packet which had no holes in, they responded that there was a batch in which this had happened and they had enclosed the holes in the envelope. But they must have fallen out.

and paulo's crunchy nuts are dear enough as it is


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 5:01 pm
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I complained a few years back when i got a packet which had no holes in, they responded that there was a batch in which this had happened and they had enclosed the holes in the envelope.

I remember Aero doing the same thing on That's Life a good few years ago now in response to a "my Aero had no holes in" whinge.


 
Posted : 07/10/2011 5:32 pm
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Update: Just got a letter back from Nestlé with a cheque for 30 quid.

Seems a bit derisory to me, all things considered. What do others think?


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 12:52 pm
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depends - what do you want?

an apology?

more money?

I think I would be happy with £30 and forget any more hassle


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 12:57 pm
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What would you expect as non-derisory?

One miiiilion dollars?

[img] [/img]

Keep the 30, you're over 29 up.


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 12:57 pm
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Update: Just got a letter back from Nestlé with a cheque for 30 quid.

Seems a bit derisory to me, all things considered. What do others think?

Seems reasonable to me, that's about what I would have expected.

It's more than Mrs PP got for the glass in her mouth incident above, and it's potentially nowhere NEAR as bad!


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 1:02 pm
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OP v, much like: [url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donoghue_v_Stevenson ]Donoghue v Stevenson[/url]

I nearly ate a blade from a potato chipping machine from a chip shop once - just caught a glimpse of it sticking out of a very fat chip, which thankfully the curry sauce hadn't covered. I took it back to the shop and they offered me free chips for life, but I wasn't in the mood for eating anymore so I just gave it back to them.


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 1:04 pm
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£30 seems beyond reasonable to me. Anything over the cost of a packet of Polos was quite generous.


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 1:08 pm
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Take the money and stop hasstling them, they paid out yeah.

I complained to Boots the Chemist a couple of months ago (boring story) and got a Giftcard with £25.00 already on it. I wasn't asking for compensation or anything like that, just a simple complaint but enough for me to write a letter (shop advisor irritant).
Makes me think they have a shedfull of Giftcards with £25.00 on them.

Long gone ar the days of crates of beer appearing on your doorstep, or buckets of meat.


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 1:08 pm
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I received a detailed letter about the production technique of Skips crisps, after complaining about a solid, uncooked one I once found in a packet.


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 1:23 pm
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[i]Long gone ar the days of crates of beer appearing on your doorstep, or buckets of meat. [/i]

Did Boots ever put beer or a bucket of meat on your doorstep after you complained?


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 1:24 pm
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I found a moth baked into the bottom of a floury bap once. Free baps.

Mmm baps.


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 1:51 pm
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I got a Kit Kat without any wafer in, so it was solid chocolate.

It was like winning the lottery!


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 2:06 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 3:40 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 14/10/2011 3:54 pm

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