Maggots in Morrisons' Frozen Broccoli

LopezLopez

A couple of years ago I stopped buying fresh broccoli from Safeway because I had found maggots in two separate ocassions. I switch to frozen broccoli because I thought that if the broccoli was really fresh when frozen, there would be no chance of maggots. I have just fed my two year old several stems of broccoli (frozen broccoli from Morrisons) only to find maggots there as well. Is this at all reasonable??? Has this happened to any of you? What sort of response should I expect from Morrisons if I bring this to their attention? There's nothing I hate more than having to return things to the supermarket. I have tried their customer service number and twice the phone's been put down on me after explaining the situation. What would you do? Thank you.

suzysue_2

Yuck. My Mum found maggots in scones bought at ASDA, she went back the next day to complain but all she got was a credit note for the amount of the scones and an apology.
I think complaining by letter gets more of a response, but not sure who you should address this to? Sure someone on here will point you in the right direction.

inkie

I would write to the head office (enclose photographic evidence), and also copy a letter to the environmental health dept. (and make sure that Morrisons are aware of this) - that way they won't be able to wangle out of it.

Throbbe

I've found small caterpillars in fresh brocolli*, but never maggots. They are definately maggots?

I'm pretty amazed customer services hung up on you! Was it a slamming down of phones, or cut off while being transferred? Anyhoo, I'd go back to the store, but have a clear idea of what you want, whether that's a replacement, a refund, an apology from the manager or a huge payout to not go to the press! Seriously though, the best way to complain is to tell them what's wrong and what you expect them to do to put it right.


* Actually I didn't. I'd already eaten all mine. But my sister found several in hers. Ewwwwww.

LopezLopez

Thank you all for your replies, I think that yes, maybe the insect is not exactly a maggot but a tiny caterpillar or whatever, does it really matter? I feel really aggravated now. As for the phones being put down on me, both cases were like, 'please wait a second madam' and then the phone would be cut off straight away.

jackieb

I found maggots in a satsuma that I bought from Safeways (a couple of years ago). I wrapped the satsuma in clingfilm and took it back to the shop. The assistant wouldn't unwrap it as she was squemish. She took my name and address and said it would be sent off. A few weeks later I got a letter from head office apologising but said they found no evidence of maggots! I wish i'd got the assistant to open it while I was there. I got a £5 voucher. I don't know why they apologised or gave me the £5 if they couldn't find anything in it.

Put me off satsumas for ages. I now look very carefully before anything I put in my mouth.

Biddyrolo

At least if you found a caterpillar it shows that it wasn't killed by insecticide before it hatched, maybe thats a good thing?

Bossyboots

My daughter found a large winged insect in some Tesco spinach a few weeks ago. She thought it was maggots at first. Tesco were brilliant, giving me an instant refund on the product and sending it away for inspection and to take it up with their supplier. Then wrote to me with a money card to spend in store, an apology and stating they would be bringing it to the attention of their supplier because there are multi level procedures they should have in place to ensure this can't happen.

Addiscomber

Maybe in future you would be better off with fresh and soaking it in cold salt water so that anything live crawls out. It is a fact of nature that things will be found in fruit and veg unless it is drenched in chemical killers.

On the 'phone issue, whenever ringing anywhere I always ask for the name of the person that answers the 'phone, and I repeat the request if I am transferred. I write it down in case I need to make a complaint, although I have never needed to yet. One or two have queried why I want to know, but mostly call centre staff answer with their name anyway these days.

Biddyrolo

I'm slightly baffled by this. We grow a lot of our own veg and, yes, it comes with added animal life. It worries me more that I don't find insect life in supermarket fruit and veg very often.

patchwork_cat

Hi
It is quite common to find flies and things in veg. Cauliflower especially - they get little flies- I always put pepper on my cauli now!!!

I used to work with someone whose husband was a greengrocer and she said she wouldn't eat sprouts until after the first frosts - something to do with wildlife!

I agree caterpillars etc. are expected in veg, maggots would be another story.