A picture of half a lizard found in a can of baked beans is running the online circuit in the UAE (and probably beyond).
The rather unappetising picture was published by Gulf News yesterday after a Dubai resident found the dead lizard floating in his newly-purchased can of baked beans. The baked beans, manufactured by Kimball, a Malaysian food distributor, were purchased from a local Choithrams supermarket.
The response so far has been swift. The Food Inspection Section at Dubai Municipality immediately pulled all Kimball baked beans from the same batch and has asked the public to call a dedicated hotline number if any further cans from this batch are discovered. As the regional supplier of Kimball products, Choithrams has been issuing statements and speaking to the media on behalf of Kimball. Furthermore, the local supermarket chain is acting as the facilitator between Kimball and Dubai Municipality. Kimball has also sent its own quality control officers to investigate the case.
By the standards of oil spills and plane crashes, this incident may barely constitute a ‘crisis’. But in food retailing, trust in the product and the brand is absolutely vital. And when anything goes wrong, the media spotlight will always find on the biggest and most recognisable brand involved. In this case, Choithrams must be commended for assuming responsibility in handling this situation. Kimball is a relatively unknown brand in the UAE and while it is owned by the multinational organisation, Campbell Soup Company, Campbell’s have not involved themselves at this stage.
Choithrams’ willingness to speak about the matter will presumably reassure shoppers that they can continue to shop in the store without the risk of finding further reptilian additives …
Thanks to my colleague Jacqueline for this post.
