Help needed, TIA.

midlandsbuyer70

Hello all,

I have a query regarding a product that I purchased two weeks ago. The product is a popular brand of crisps and the problem that I had with the product is that it was so powerfully over seasoned with vinegar that the following morning I had skin lifting from the inside of my lips. This is the second time that this has happened in maybe 3 months.

As this was the second time I phoned the company and they seemed to take the matter seriously, they claimed to not receive my initial email which was sent the morning after I ate the product. I still have this email to prove that it was sent on the day I informed the company representative as he claimed to not have received it? He said that he would send me out a self addressed envelope so that I could post the product back to them for analysis.

I received the jiffy bag today along with a letter and some vouchers totalling £6. In all honesty I don't think that the amount is enough , I don't want to come across as greedy but in this instance with how serious the effect was from eating their product I would have thought that they would take the matter a little more seriously and vouchers to spend on some more of their products(s) seems like they're not that fussed.

Your advise is greatly appreciated.

Tigsteroonie

Hello and welcome to MSE.

Did you go to the GP? Take any photos of the inflammation in your mouth? Did you suffer any lasting damage?

With no medical evidence, it is rather your word against theirs. A refund of £6 vouchers is all I'd expect in this situation. You cannot sue them for more without evidence.

I am sure that if they received a substantial number of complaints about a particular batch, they would investigate the manufacturing process.

eta. I am very fond of salt-n-vinegar crisps, and can often bear heavily vinegar'd varieties when others cannot

agrinnall

The manfacturer owes you nothing by statute as your consumer rights are with the retailer, although it's likely they will state on the packaging that they will refund or replace any unsatisfactory products. Unless they say that a refund will be in cash then vouchers are acceptable. Had you wanted cash you could have returned them to the retailer, although if the cost was, as I suspect, less than £6 you'd probably have ended up with only the purchase price. To be honest, you are coming across as greedy.

sjbrun

How much were you expecting?

What did your doctor say that morning?

powerful_Rogue

I'm going to sit back with my packet of salt and vinegar crisps and watch this unfold!

Fosterdog

Did you not notice it stinging and burning while eating? How much of the pack did you get through? Are we talking a single serve packet or did you scoff a full tube of pringles in one go?

Is it a brand you have eaten before? Could it just be that this brand use a stronger flavouring than you are used to?

OH loves salt and vinegar crisps and particularly with pringles if he eats too many he gets similar to what you describe but it always starts with mild irritation and only gets that bad if he continues to eat them when he knows he should stop. I get similar from cheesy doritos so choose to not eat them anymore.

I would say send them back in the Jiffy bag provided, if they find a fault I'm sure they'll offer more than the £6 vouchers, if they don't then they have been generous in offering that.

splishsplash

What portion size did you eat? Did you eat just one 28g pack or thereabouts, or part of or one giant sharing bag?

unholyangel

This isn't an uncommon occurrence with salt & vinegar crisps.

Why it occurs in some people but other people can eat them without it happening I have no idea. But its more akin to an allergic reaction rather than anything being wrong/dangerous about the product itself and I'm afraid being allergic to something won't necessarily entitle you to compensation - £6 or otherwise.

midlandsbuyer70

thanks for the replies, I usually treat myself to this particular brand once a month for film night so I'm aware that on the two occasions there was indeed a problem, I ate about a quarter of the packet, no no visit to the GP as I was in work for 6am, skin did start to peel as the morning went on and that's when I sent them an email.

I got my partner to taste a couple and she had to spit them out as they were far too strong.

Thanks for the advice.

NotRichAtAll

So it took a quarter of a bag before you noticed they were

so powerfully over seasoned with vinegar

all i can suggest is try prawn cocktail or cheese n onion

Fosterdog

I know these are all US based sites but lots of people have the same and it's relatively normal and it's not just with salt and vinegar although that is probably up there with the worst.

http://ask.metafilter.com/199602/My-Mouth-is-on-FIEYAH
https://www.bustle.com/articles/130776-6-weird-things-that-can-cause-chapped-lips-how-to-fix-them
http://health.howstuffworks.com/skin-care/lip-care/tips/foods-bad-for-lips.htm
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1476358
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=2003764
http://www.ourhealth.com/conditions/ears-nose-mouth-throat-conditions/painful-mouth-swelling-due-to-salt-amp-amp-vinegar-chips

That's less than 2 minutes of searching the issue, you will find thousands if not millions more if you look it up