Thread: Re: Why I hate Walmart (take 2) - sw's letter to HD

On 8/23/2011 3:48 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> This is my formal complaint which I faxed and emailed to the health
> department. Anal readers will notice I'm giving them a 1F discount on
> the lamb for several reasons which I'm not going into here.
>
> AUSTIN/TRAVIS COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES August 23rd, 2011
> ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER HEALTH
> 15 Waller St.
> RBJ Health Center
> Austin, TX 78702
> Fax # (512) 978-0322
>
> Steve Wertz
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Voice 512-xxx-xxxx
> Email: [email protected]
>
>
> This is a serious complaint against Walmart Store # xxxxx, Austin
> Texas. In particular, the meat department.
>
> I visited this store in Thursday August 18th and purchased some "Lamb
> Country Style Spare Ribs". I thought they felt kind of warm but
> purchased them anyway. I opened them on Friday afternoon and they
> were clearly rotten from their smell. I immediately repackaged them
> and put them in the freezer and called the store.
>
> I spoke with a supervisor named "Amanda" and told them they have a
> temperature problem in the lamb section of the meat shelves in the
> meat department and told them they have several packages of rotten
> lamb. She assured me that she would get with the meat department and
> they would look into it.
>
> On Sunday at 2:30PM I returned the rotten lamb and visited the meat
> department. The same packages of lamb were there on the shelves as
> were there on Thursday, plus more. They all felt warm, along with the
> meat on surrounding shelves.
>
> I spoke with a "Merchandise Supervisor" in the meat department and
> asked him to feel how warm these packages of meat are. He refused to
> touch the packages several times. I explained how I had just returned
> some of it and it was rotten and that there is no way that these
> packages are a safe temperature. He said he understood what I was
> saying but that his managers check the temperatures every few hours
> and they assure him these are OK. He then referred to dial
> thermometer near the lamb that showed 44F.
>
> I insisted they have a serious problem and also insisted that he check
> the temperatures of these packages. He said he will. I said good,
> because I want to see it as well. A manager sensing the commotion
> also came over and I re-explained the situation to her. She also
> refused to feel how warm the packages were. Other customers
> overhearing this became curious and started feeling the packages and
> agreed something was wrong. Eventually the ´merchandise supervisor¡
> went off to get an infrared thermometer and take some readings.
>
> The lamb in question was 59F. These are the same packages that had
> been there since at least Thursday and had expiration dates of August
> 29th. Other packages of meat (not necessarily lamb) had temperatures
> of 56 and 46F. About 16 linear feet of shelf space appeared to have
> been affected. None of the meat I saw him take the temperatures of
> registered under 42F.
>
> I find it downright criminal that a major grocer can be so
> irresponsible as to not check their meat safety when alerted to a
> problem - not once, but three times. It was like pulling teeth trying
> to convince them they have a serious safety problem. I was refusing
> to leave until they checked the temperatures in my presence.
>
> When I left they were clearing some of the shelves of meat - who knows
> what they did it - I'm afraid to know. but I would strongly suggest a
> full inspection the meat department at that facility. I have a
> witness that was with me and can verify the conversation and
> temperature readings we observed, if necessary.
>
> I would appreciate acknowledgment of receipt of this letter but phone,
> fax or email. I am emailing and faxing this to your department.
> Thank you for looking into this serious matter.
>
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Steve Wertz

It'll be interesting to find out the response you receive from the HD,
when/if they bother to send you a reply. I wonder what will happen to
wallywirld as a consequence.

Sky


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