Glass in Heinz baked beans

Markgb

Hello everyone. A few weeks ago I was eating a can of the aforementioned beans and found two very sharp shards of glass inside. Fortunately, I noticed in time and removed them without suffering injury. Naturally, I was concerned (what if a child had been eating the beans) so I contacted Heinz who requested I send the can and the two shards of glass in a CSI style sample tube (I took a picture, too). They responded by confirming it was indeed glass and apologised. They could find no reason or clue why it was in their beans. They sent me £30 worth of Heinz vouchers. After consulting the Citizens' Advice Consumer Helpline, I responded by saying that to be offered vouchers for a product that might have seriously injured me or someone else was a bit insulting. Their response was essentially 'Sorry, but tough' that's our policy. I don't really want to go down a legal route, with a solicitor's letter/time costing £150 an hour, does anyone have any advice? Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

wealdroam

Markgb wrote: »

They sent me £30 worth of Heinz vouchers. After consulting the Citizens' Advice Consumer Helpline, I responded by saying that to be offered vouchers for a product that might have seriously injured me or someone else was a bit insulting. Their response was essentially 'Sorry, but tough' that's our policy. I don't really want to go down a legal route, with a solicitor's letter/time costing £150 an hour, does anyone have any advice? Any help or insight is greatly appreciated.

OK, you've told us that you don't want their £30 voucher, but you haven't said what you do want.

What do you want?

closed

more beans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzXGhZebNOo

Slowhand

What loss or injury did you suffer? What might have happened didn't. I had to do an emergency stop in my car last week when a taxi pulled out in front of me. Can I claim for the damage that may have happened if I hadn't manage to stop in time?

fozmcfc

If you had swallowed it, ended up in hosptial and suffered injury, then I would expect them to bend over backwards to cover costs.

As you didn't you have suffered no loss, other than you probably didn't fancy eating the beans.

They have a made a generous offer, roughly £29 more than the beans you couldn't eat.

Other than accept, about the only other you can do, is report your glass in the beans, to the authrorities and if they think it is necessary then the batch concerned could be recalled.

Markgb

I don't think glass in food is acceptable. A major company should be more responsible. I am looking for more than £30 in vouchers for a product I won't touch again - but nothing unrealistic. Even £30 in real money would have been something....

jacques_chirac

Markgb wrote: »

I don't think glass in food is acceptable. A major company should be more responsible. I am looking for more than £30 in vouchers for a product I won't touch again - but nothing unrealistic. Even £30 in real money would have been something....

Stick them on ebay

wealdroam

Markgb wrote: »

I don't think glass in food is acceptable.

Neither do I.

All we need to do now is establish the 'value' of this piece of glass that caused no damage.

What did the Citizens' Advice Consumer Helpline suggest during your consultation?

tinkerbell28

You won't get anywhere in court. You've been compensated more than your costs.

You can't quantify costs or damages, because there aren't any. Saying but what could've/would've/should've could see the court slapping costs on you for wasting time.

Markgb

wealdroam wrote: »

Neither do I.

All we need to do now is establish the 'value' of this piece of glass that caused no damage.

What did the Citizens' Advice Consumer Helpline suggest during your consultation?

They thought £30 was not enough. And I should negotiate. Heinz just said this was their standard policy.

tinkerbell28

Markgb wrote: »

They thought £30 was not enough. And I should negotiate. Heinz just said this was their standard policy.

£30 for what? Something which didn't happen.

They won't negotiate, so your only option is small claims.....but you don't have any costs to quantify, so good luck with that! When they look at the claim, you'll need it.