Supermarket sold ‘rotten’ lamb

A Dunedin supermarket that sold "rotten" roast lamb is offering customers refunds and its supplier has apologised as both companies launch an investigation.

Rochelle Prattley, of Mosgiel, said her family bought a fresh Silver Fern Farms boneless lamb shoulder roast from Countdown Mosgiel on June 15.

Once home, the fresh meat was put in the freezer and taken out to thaw on Tuesday morning.

The meat was "partially frozen" when it was put in the oven to roast in the afternoon.

The first sign the meat was "rotten" was the smell permeating from the oven.

"The whole house stunk - it smelt like something had died."

The family rang Countdown Mosgiel to complain and was asked to bring the meat in to get a refund or replacement.

The family had thrown the meat in the wheelie bin to contain the smell and did not want any more meat so declined the offer.

Ms Prattley found it unusual the meat had been packaged with two use-by date stickers, put on by  Countdown, rather than Silver Fern Farms, she said.

A "June 18" sticker covered a "June 16" sticker, she said.

Silver Fern Farms head of communications and sustainability Justin Courtney said the meat processing company had been informed a "small number" of boneless netted lamb shoulder items were returned to Countdown Mosgiel.

"As is our process, we are working with Countdown to find the cause as to why this product was not in optimal condition.

"We apologise for any inconvenience to customers who may have returned their product."

Countdown spokeswoman Kate Porter said as soon as Countdown Mosgiel discovered a quality issue relating to the lamb, it removed the product from its shelves.

The supermarket was investigating the incident, she said.

Any concerned customer could return their product to their Countdown for a full refund and replacement.

shawn.mcavinue@odt.co.nz

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