Jusko po~ Jusko po ~ (omg~ omg~)
What would you do if the food you bought comes with a pokemon inside?
I should be writing about this post last month though I was so busy and had other topics to write.
I would always buy some foods to eat at home after doing my monthly grocery shopping. This is to replenish the energy I have expended for walking and pushing the heavy cart for almost an hour and a half.
This incident occured in September. It was the first day of the 'ber' months and I was quite excited to do groceries that time. For sure the mall will be playing Christmas songs at every corner. I even wore a red shirt.
After leaving my cart at the baggage area, I went to buy my foods. This time, I also bought something to eat for dinner so I wouldn't have to cook anymore that day.
I went to KFC to buy my food for snack and dinner. A creamy spinach twister and zinger. While I was about to return to the baggage area, I saw the bakeshop's signage and suddenly was craving some ensaymada. I was supposed to get the regular ones but then I saw they have ube ensaymada.
While looking around to see if there were other foods I'd like, I saw cakes that were individually sliced on their display area. I went to the cashier and placed the ensaymadas on the counter then told her that I'm also getting a slice of their sans rival. I thought the display area was covered in glass but I was surprised when the staff took the cake in front. I didn't notice the cover was only plastic, similar to the stripes of plastic partition at the door of a meat section in a grocery. While the staff was returning to the counter, I saw some pies displayed at arm's reach so I got one and added it beside the ensaymadas.
I got home and placed the foods I bought at the table in my room and immediately fixed the groceries at the pantry. I changed clothes and took out the foods I bought for some photos. Sorry, but I have to cover the ensaymadas and empanada because the bakeshop's logos are printed on it.
I ate the twister first and decided to eat the burger for dinner instead.
After the twister, I was choosing between the chicken pie and cake, then I remembered the fridge is already full and storing the cake will be more challenging than the pie so I'm eating the cake first. I took a photo of the cake before eating it.
It tasted good and I was eating it so slowly and bit by bit. I was also busy scrolling on my phone catching up on social media. Until I was down to the last two spoons of cake, I noticed something poking out in the cake. It was dark and really standing out from the light color of the cake.
I used my spoon to move the bits of nuts and cream to see it better.
Voila! Guess who's that pokemon?
It's Weedle! A dark weedle. 😩
You know, I was praying that what was on my mind was different on what was in front of me. I took a closer look at it and tried my best to identify it. I knew I was doomed when I saw the dark thing had segments on its body. It's not just a dirt but a freakin' insect. Worm? Caterpillar? Perhaps a caterpillar, right? Because its body had segments.
I was utterly disgusted and froze for a moment as it was only starting to sink in that I ate a food with an insect in it. Worst is that I already ate almost all of it. I have been cursing inside my head as I took more photos and videos, and zooming in to have a clearer view and make sure it was really an insect.
One question keep circling in my head. What if the insect in it wasn't alone and I've eaten it? Holy moly!
First thing I did was message a friend with the photo to ask if what she sees was really an insect, and also to confirm that I was just not imagining things.
After confirming it to a friend, I immediately sent a message to one of the bakeshop's social media accounts along with the photos I took to make them aware of my case to which they responded some minutes later asking for other details.
Past 6 P.M., I received a call from their roving manager asking if I could bring back the item that day for investigation. I told them I can bring them the next day instead because it was already late. Traveling to and from would take me about an hour and a half, and of course, I would be doing some explanation at the bakeshop for who knows how long it would take.
So next day at around 11 A.M., I went to the bakeshop to surrender the cake. The store's manager spoke to me and said she has been waiting for me. Just about a minute she had been talking to me, her phone rang. She told the person on the phone that I was already there.
After receiving the call, she went back inside the kitchen and got a toothpick. She then took out the cake container out of the paper bag and examined the insect. The manager agreed and confirmed that it was indeed an insect.
She asked me a few times if the insect was inside the cake and dead when I found it. I told her yes. She then told me that if it was the case then it's not the store's fault but probably on their factory. She also mentioned that it was their first time to have such complaint. I then replied, "ang swerte ko naman" (I must be lucky). We both laughed.
Of course, I am not happy with this situation I was in. I am just not the type who would shout and spit fire at the staffs. Yeah I know I'm weird.
I was asked of my other concerns to which I said I'm afraid that what if there wasn't only one insect in cake and have eaten the other/s? What if it makes me sick? Manager then mentioned that they have a doctor who can assist me in case I feel sick within a week.
A few customers started coming in and manager told me that they're giving me a complimentary item of my choice. I was hesitant about it but the manager was helping me choose, even pointing at the cakes. Like, really? 💀 She probably saw my face and pointed at the breads and egg pies instead.
The store was starting to get busy and I know I must leave already so I just told I'm having the egg pie. She quickly took one box out of the display and wrapped it with a ribbon so quick.
I left the store and the mall but while I was on the jeepney, the manager surprisingly called me and asked if I can return. I can barely understand why because of the noise around me. So I went back and found out that she forgot to let me sign the receipt for the complimentary item.
The complimentary item. It tastes good but due to the incident, I was having trust issues with their other products as well. I ate it little by little with hesitation.
Two days later, I got a call from their head office telling that the cake I ate will be sent to a third party investigator to find out what it was. And regarding my concern about my health, she mentioned that I can go to any hospital to have myself checked and they would reimburse my expenses. Or I could observe myself for a week instead. I went for the latter.
The next day, I received another call from the same person and told me about the result of the investigation. She told me that the factory and store where I bought the cake from were investigated and found no trace of source where the insect could have come from. They looked closely how the cakes were made and even looked into the cake where the slice was from. They found none. She also told me that the store regularly have its pest control. She said that my case will be considered as an isolated case.
She kept repeating the result of the investigation until I found a chance to ask what the insect was. She mentioned that it was an insect you can mostly find on vegetables. It was about a centimeter long. She added that there was no ingredient of the cake where the insect would possibly come from.
Seven days after eating the cake, I called her to tell that I didn't feel any sickness on the entire duration of observing myself. She didn't answer the call, probably because it was a Sunday but she returned the call few hours later.
I told her I'm okay the entire week and there's no need to visit the hospital. She then asked if I can return to the store so things can be settled for the last time and compensate for the inconvenience. I forgot the term she used but it somehow meant like that. I turned it down and told her it's okay, besides, I only visit the mall on a monthly basis. We bid farewell and ended the call.
Case closed.
You know, I badly wanted to end this case because it has been stressing me for a week already. I only wanted to eat a dessert after grocery shopping to relax but I got problems instead.
However, I do not believe the insect didn't come from the cake. It was inside and dead. One of the ingredients of the sans rival cake is cashew. And upon searching, it says that cashews can be infested with worms.
Well, it may be difficult to look on each cashew to check on worms so the infected cashew slipped through and the lucky stars have conspired to give me the slice which has the worm in it. So lucky! 😬
The company indeed helped me with my concern. They were kind and handled my concern profesionally. However, I didn't hear any of them apologize. I was waiting for them to say sorry but I never heard it. I guess the complimentary item was already their way of apologizing.
I also didn't insist anymore of my complaint because the food was taken home and I know it would be more difficult to prove my case. If only I had the cake for dine in then there's no way to doubt and deny it.
This incident made me realize that I should still be careful no matter how good the reputation of the brand is. Don't ask me to spill the store's name because I am not telling it. But this should be a reminder to all of us to be mindful of our foods, even on cakes where we would least expect to find a worm.
Anyway, that's all. I still eat cakes and still love them but no longer from this brand. Maybe it will take me years before I can confidently trust their products again.
Sorry if the post was long I already did my best to summarize it. Thanks!
