In my last post, I stated that I had received farmed salmon from Waitrose, when it fact, I had ordered wild salmon and it came in ‘Wild Alaskan Salmon’ packaging.
Following my return from the tennis match, I called the Ocado Call Centre and spoke with a very pleasant and polite young lady. I explained that whilst I had ordered ‘Wild Alaskan Salmon’ and it clearly stated the fact on the container, due to the colouring and taste of the fish (which was competely void of taste), it was clearly not ‘wild’, but had to be ‘farmed’.
Straight away, she agreed to refund the money due to a lack of satisfaction in the product. I accepted and appreciated the gesture. However, my main concern was the fact that the product had been incorrectly packaged and was misleading to the public and potentially harmful to people who are paying a much higher price for a higher quality product, yet receiving a very poor quality product that could potentially be harmful to health.
I have asked for Ocado to call me back to explain how the error happened and how they will ensure this will not happen in the future. Initially, I was told that they do not call customers back, but after I explained that they have broken Trading Standards laws, the young lady informed me that they would call me back. Three days later, I am yet to receive a call to explain the situation.
It makes me wonder how many people have unknowingly eaten farmed salmon thinking it is wild. I understand that mistakes happen and this could be a genuine mistake. I would like hear from anyone who has experienced the same problem as it might not be so innocent, but a way to cut costs and maximise profits by trying to pull the wool over the customers eyes. If this is the case, they will need to get up a little earlier to catch me out!
After going to a Waitrose store and buying Wild Salmon over the counter I returned home and took some photographs so you can see the difference. Note the difference in colour between farmed (which had been packaged as ‘wild’), a grey pink (left) and wild, a dark pink (right) prior to cooking.
Notice the difference after cooking in the colour. The one on the left is the farmed salmon and is much lighter and duller in colour than the wild salmon on the right.
I will update you on any progress as and when I receive feedback, or if indeed I contact Trading Standards.