Look before tucking into your snacks

I WISH to warn consumers to look before they eat especially where snacks are concerned.

Last week, I bought a few packets of snacks from a hypermarket in Shah Alam. When I opened one of them, to my shock and horror, I saw a “preserved and flavoured” spider inside!

I can’t imagine what would have happened if a child, senior citizen or visually-impaired person had consumed the snack together with the “addition” (“Buy one free one”?) or if a movie-goer had dug in unaware of what he was getting! Or if I had half or fully consumed the snacks before I made the discovery!

I emailed the manufacturer immediately, requesting that a representative call me regarding my discovery. I also told them that they had a serious hygiene and quality control problem.

But they did not bother to call. They just emailed a letter the next day signed by a person with just one name who did not even state his or her position in the company. I was requested to provide the “production date, production batch and etc” of the product, but how would I know all these?

I then forwarded photos of the packaging, the “special guest” inside, bar codes and receipt and also stated that the expiry date was June 19, 2019.

Due to the lack of urgency, seriousness and professionalism in their handling of my complaint, I decided to lodge an official report with the Health Ministry two days later.

It is my fervent wish that the Health Ministry conducts regular and random checks on food manufacturers in order to protect innocent consumers from being victims of their bad manufacturing practices. UNWITTING SPIDERWOMAN Sungei Buloh