By: Natasha Archary
Nombulelo Mkumla was left disgusted after she found a rat baked into a loaf of bread she had purchased from a store.
Taking to social media, Nombulelo was shocked when she made herself something to eat and noticed large chunks of a rat on some slices of bread.
Sharing her story, Nombulelo said she purchased the loaf of Sasko whole wheat brown bread from a Spar in Durban on 27 August.
That day, Nombulelo made some toast after work, eating the bread. The following day she did the same thing.
On the morning of 31 August, Nombulelo took the bread out of the fridge ready to make some toast and noticed something disgusting and scary.
“I took a picture and sent it to my friends, and one of them said, ‘Yi mpuku leyo tshomi’ (‘That’s a rat friend’). I was in denial and suggested it might be something else, but the rat scenario made sense.
It’s possible the rat got into the bread at the factory, and no one noticed.
I went to Spar with the bread, and they advised me to lay a complaint with their supplier directly and gave me the contacts.
I sent an email with a video and pictures of the bread to the supplier, Pioneer Foods on Saturday, 31 August.
Someone responded by email, acknowledging receipt of my email on Monday the 02 September, and filled out a form stating that the bread had mould. Why would I make a fuss over mould? I responded and gave my description of the complaint.”
The irate Nombulelo said she did not hear back from Pioneer Foods until Friday afternoon, 06 September when a man from Sasko called her.
“Ma’am, I am from Sasko. I am calling regarding your recent experience with our product. I sincerely apologize for what happened to you.
It shouldn’t have happened, but you must understand that it gets hot where we bake our products, so things like this are bound to happen.
Yes, I admit that your bread had a mouse/rat. We are putting measures in place to prevent this from happening again. Don’t worry; it won’t affect you health-wise.”
Nombulelo said the apology she received made her angrier because instead of apologizing to her, she was given an excuse that it gets hot inside the factory where the bread is baked.
She shared that she will never buy or eat Sasko products again after her traumatic and disgusting experience.
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