Milk drink bought in Colwyn Bay 'could have made toddler ill'

Mar 25 2010 by Eva Ketley, North Wales Weekly News

Morrisons’ milk drink could have made toddler ill

A YOUNG mum was horrified when she spotted a milk drink she’d bought for her toddler was three weeks out of date.

Valerie Roberts, 36, from Llandudno Junction bought the Galaxy chocolate milk drink on Sunday from Morrisons in Colwyn Bay and was just about to give it to two-year-old Tia when she spotted the date on the lid.

“Luckily I always check dates when I’m opening things, otherwise Tia could have drunk it and become ill,” she said.

“At her age she wouldn’t notice if something didn’t taste right.”

Valerie says because the drink contains milk and cream, the store should have been extra careful about checking whether it was in date.

“The date on it was March 1 and I bought it on March 21. They can’t have a very good system for checking their stock if this could happen.

“I think it’s disgusting that they have such an attitude to customer safety,” she said.

Valerie returned to the store on Monday and says she spoke to one of the managers about her complaint.

“He didn’t really apologise, and offered me a refund and a gift voucher, but it’s not about the money the drink cost, but the fact it could have made my daughter seriously ill,” she said.

“For something to be on the shelf three weeks out of date is ridiculous and I think Morrisons needs a good shake-up of its systems because something like this shouldn’t happen.

“The manager told me they do have systems for checking dates but they’re obviously not working,” she added.

Valerie has complained to Conwy County Council’s Trading Standards department.

“I hope something will be done to stop this happening again.

“For something to be one or two days out of date would be bad enough, but three weeks is terrible,” she said.

A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We work hard to ensure that stock is properly managed and members of staff are carefully trained in areas such as stock rotation and date mark checks.

“The customer was asked to leave the product and proof of purchase with the store so that a full investigation could be carried out and we urge the customer to do so.”

Food Standard Agency guidelines state that shops can sell items after their Sell By or Best Before Dates, but not their Use By Date.

Judith.Phillips