Sandreisha Milky* says she found more than just mackerel in the meal she was preparing for her children recently. In addition to the fish, she found a tiny organism with about five small legs, which is now being examined by the company that distributes it.

According to Milky, she was preparing a tin of Lasco jack mackerel for her children two weeks ago, when she made the discovery. "I have my seasonings in the pot and everything and I put the mackerel in the pot and start to stir it up," she said.

She said while stirring the contents, she found the thing on a spoon. "When mi look, mi see this ting on the fork. The back look like shrimps and when mi turn it over mi see it have some little foot, about four to five feet," she said.

Apologised

Milky said the following day, January 15, she tried to contact the company but it took some time before she was finally able to make a complaint. Following that, she said she also called the Bureau of Standards and the following day she received a call from a Lasco representative, who apologised and told her that she would be given a gift basket and that the mackerel would be replaced as compensation.

Milky was, however, upset about the time it took the company to handle the matter. "Because we are poor people they don't have to deal with it like this. Me nah really ask fi nutten, mi call them and they don't even come,

Now investigating

Company representatives went to Milky's home in St Catherine that same day and collected the sample and are now investigating. In a release responding to queries , Lasco said, "We at Lasco place a high priority on quality, so we responded quickly to this complaint. We collected the item from the customer on January 19, 2009, and we passed it to our Quality Control Division, which has since commenced its investigations."

The company added that it has assured Milky that as soon as the Quality Control Division completes its investigation, she will be told of the findings. The company said they have also compensated her. "We had also offered the customer a replacement and a gift of groceries, which she accepted. Lasco remains committed to rigorous quality control measures and compliance to high quality standards," the release said.

Milky confirmed that she has accepted the basket and said she is awaiting the conclusion of the matter.