A Welsh family experienced a Christmas Day disaster when out-of-date beer bought from a B&M store exploded and made a man sick. Jane Proctor purchased three Shipyard IPA beers from the Cardiff store on December 23 as a Christmas treat for her partner, Huw John, who is battling stage four throat cancer and cannot eat normally. However, when Huw opened the beer during their Christmas dinner, it exploded all over the food, had a strange taste and smell, and made him vomit.
Jane was shocked to find out that the beers she bought were past their expiry dates, ranging between April and July 2024, after inspecting the bottles more closely. Despite the family’s belief that the alcohol would be fine as it was newly bought, they discovered that all three bottles were way out of date. They returned to the store on Boxing Day and were dismayed to find more out-of-date bottles still on the shelves, including Shipyard and Doom Bar beers.
Expressing her disappointment, Jane mentioned that the staff at the store seemed uninterested and did not offer an apology for the mistake. She also highlighted that she had not received any response or apology from the company despite lodging a complaint and informing trading standards about the issue. The incident not only ruined their Christmas meal but also made Huw feel unwell, requiring a visit to the doctor the next day for antibiotics.
In response to the situation, a spokesman for B&M issued an apology for the oversight and confirmed that the product had been removed from the shelves. They assured that steps were taken to remind staff of correct procedures to prevent such incidents in the future. Despite the apology, Jane expressed her anger and vowed never to shop at that store again due to the negative impact it had on their Christmas celebration and Huw’s health.
The family’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of checking product dates before consumption and highlights the potential risks associated with consuming expired goods. It also sheds light on the need for retailers to maintain stringent quality control measures to ensure the safety and satisfaction of their customers. This incident serves as a reminder for consumers to be vigilant when purchasing items, especially during festive seasons, to avoid similar mishaps and health concerns.