• Exploding SPC ARDMONA Canned Tomatoes • or should I say ...
SPC ARDMONA TOMATOES: IS WARNING LABEL NEEDED ?

STORY SO FAR...
At FACEBOOK, OzPianoman comments :

"Tomatoes! SPC ARDMONA TOMATOES ringpull can explodes contents over OzPianoman, clothing and kitchen.
Report major clean up job; They send $7. Any recall news? Now buying Italian ... You?"

SPC ARDMONA is not particularly concerned it seems.

15th May 2009. Cooking Bolognaise. The ring pull can of Tomatoes explodes on opening.
Wrote 'em a long letter explaining how the contents ended up all over the place...where and when purchased -
and what the can's ID numbers were... etc.

A bit over a week later I receive a $7 Money order, dated 2nd APRIL, inscribed "FROM COCA COLA AMATIL WHERE WE VALUE OUR CUSTOMERS" - and a print copy of the SPC ARDMONA email apology for the "inconvenience".
"Our Quality Control people have been notified" it says.
No explanation about what could cause an event which might have sent me to a hospital burns unit?
This stuff is added to scalding liquids on a stovetop. Imagine - DROP THE CAN IN and whammo ........
So it's worth SEVEN DOLLARS huh?
Criticised their dismissive handling of a dangerous situation...
Another lengthy email suggesting they might need to warn the public of the risk involved in handling this product?
Perhaps a recall of a batch which might have done someone a serious damage?
Yes, well... Response to my 2nd email? NO REPLY.
So. Third Time Lucky?

Email #3; Told 'em I would publish the details on Twitter and Facebook.
And HEY, GUESS WHAT, LOOK - The Phone Rings!!!

"Sorry, we were a bit busy that week".
They agreed the compensation sent by them might have been a bit puny in the circumstances - but things had just followed normal procedure observed by Customer Service (...who?) and the $7 was thought to have been sufficient to cover the shopping bill.
So "if that's not enough "compensation", seeing that the circumstances were a bit more complicated in your case, perhaps You'd like to put a figure on it???"
Yeah says Me. "Make it $200 and I'll go away"!!!
"Can't just pay someone $200 straight up" says he - "that's an Insurance Claim!
We'll need you to put it in writing - telling us how much you think it's worth."

Told him it'd be a real short reply! (Wasted enough time with these turkeys...)
Wrote back "Re Compensation? AS DISCUSSED... $200".

Emailed that off and 4 days later, end of day, received another phone call (same guy).
And NOW they'd like "some justification" for this $200 claim - like "Was it for medical bills or compensation for lost income?

WHAT !?!!!
More bickering, writing, reporting - more lost time? ... Nahhh

Told Him to get lost.

Got better things to do with my time than validate their Insurance Company Claim for the 200 DOLLARS he'd said to put in writing!
I DID THAT ALREADY.
Wasn't out to sting 'em in the first place... I'd simply prefer to let the world know that I don't buy SPC ARDMONA TOMATOES anymore.
So despite alerts on TV that buying Imported Tomatoes is bad for the industry and wrecks the Australian economy ...
I now buy the Italian ones!!!
Tell you what; THEY TASTE FINE. I get them at the local fruit and veg.
AND...
They might even be cheaper than what I used to buy at the supermarket (?)

Certainly no explosions with the Italian product.

That's it SPC ARDMONA AUSTRALIA - about your EXPLODING CANNED TOMATOES I will say no more!
Oh except ... Your piddly little 7 dollars is being returned -

Thanks but no thanks!

OzP