Bumble Bee International Inc

Dear [redacted]:We are sorry to hear about your recent unpleasant experience with our Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore in Water.From the description of the object, you found in our product, we believe it is a tuna eye lens. We follow stringent quality Control procedures to prevent this from happening and it is a rare occurrence to find one in the finished product. We make every effort to bring to the consumer the highest quality tuna on the market and assure you this incident will be reported to our Ouality Assurance department.Your satisfaction is important to our Company. We appreciate your Courtesy in bringing this matter to our attention. We hope you will Continue to use and enjoy our products by redeeming the enclosedCOupOnS.Sincerely,[redacted]. [redacted] Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Hello,Attached please find a copy the consumer's response that will be mail out to him.Let me know if there are any questions.Thanks,[redacted]

Consumer did not send us the tuna eye lent.  [redacted]

Review: I purchased a couple of cans of sardines from my local grocery store. When I got home I decided to open up a can for a snack. As I was eating the sardines I noticed a long strand of curly hair in my sardines. I became sick with profuse vomiting, sweating and an extreme case of diarrhea. I can no longer stand the smell of fish of any kind now. I have contacted the company and they have yet to respond. My last option was to file a complaint here so other customers won't experience the same fate.Desired Settlement: I would like to have a response from the company and possibly file suit. I should not have hair in my can of sardines.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for writing us about your recent experience with our Beach Cliff Sardines in Soybean Oil.

We are at a loss to offer an explanation for the condition of the product as you described it. Our highly trained personnel follow stringent quality control procedures to provide the consumer with the highest quality product on the market. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have been caused and assure you your comments have been referred to our Quality Assurance department.

Your satisfaction is important to our company. We appreciate your courtesy in bringing this matter to our attention. We hope you will continue to use and enjoy our products by redeeming the enclosed coupons.

Consumer Affairs Correspondent

Enclosure:

3 Beach Cliff - Any Beach Cliff Product

Review: have been unable to discover if there is a recall on the very bad smelling family packages of tuna the smell as well appearance when opening tuna. mailed upc wrappings and receipt company did not write backDesired Settlement: refund two eight (8) cans packages of horrible tuna

Business

Response:

Hello,

Review: I ordered a 6 pack of 5oz. cans of Bumble Bee Solid White Albacore Tuna. Upon opening the package, a young child in my home touched a foreign object that was somehow sticking out of a closed can.

Upon investigation, the object appeared to something resembling a ball of hair or steel wool. I immediately wrote a letter to Bumble Bee and enclosed pictures. Understandably, I also threw the full 6-pack in the garbage, since I could reasonably assume the item was contaminated.

Three weeks later, I was sent a letter by Bumble Bee asking that I send them the can. I did that, which a month later resulted in another letter from Bumble Bee.

Enclosed in the letter was a coupon for 2 free cans of tuna, despite the fact that they confirmed it was a six-pack. The letter also stated "We are at a loss to offer an explanation for the condition of the product as you described it". First, I didn't describe it; they had the actual can as well as pictures. Second, the company did nothing to dismiss concern that a child or anyone potentially touched something dangerous.

As a result of this letter, I contacted Bumble Bee directly. They were very dismissive and unapologetic, and explained that it was a harmless piece of plastic. There was no explanation of this in the letter, and I'm having to waste my own time in getting a quality issue with their company resolved. When I stated that they only attempted to reimburse two cans, they agreed to send me a coupon for four more cans and also asked if I had a receipt.Desired Settlement: I explained to the customer service rep on the phone that the only thing Bumble Bee offered, after I had to call and write to them directly, was two free cans of tuna. They then offered to send me a coupon for four more cans. One, why would I have to spend my time to call you just to get us back to square one of refunding what was defective? Second, it's a bit insulting that Bumble Bee doesn't feel the need to explain themselves or offer something that would actually encourage me to continue doing business with them.

The customer service rep was passive-aggressively polite, asking things like "what else do you want?" At the time I was caught offguard by that question, but after thinking about it, I want to be able to purchase a product without worrying that a child is touching something contaminated. If something that serious does happen, I want a company to be smart enough to do something more than send a letter stating "We're at a loss for an explanation" and two worthless coupons. I want Bumble Bee to stop putting the onus on the consumer to reconcile their Quality Assurance issues. Why did I have to contact you and sit on hold to find out it was a harmless piece of plastic? Why would the CSR on the phone request a receipt? What value does that serve, other than making sure I didn't steal the six cans of tuna in question? What does that do to address the quality service issue, and show appreciation to the customer for pointing out what could have been a significant issue?

I've been a loyal consumer of Bumble Bee tuna since childhood, and this experience thus far has made it near impossible to ever walk into a store and buy another product produced by Bumble Bee again.

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted],

Attached please find copies of the consumer's correspondence.

Let me know if there are any questions.

Thanks,

Review: The Coral/Bumble Bee product I had purchased (about 10 cans) approximately in the beginning of August 2013 from a local store KTA here in Big Island, Hawaii. My pregnant daughter had bit into a bone in it about a quarter of an inch, I was shocked so I emailed the company directly. They in turn sent me a self addressed stamped envelope, a little plastic baggie and 3 coupons for more of their product. Along with a letter explaining how sorry they were but to send the bone back to them. As I felt that this was very unprofessional, and lack of consideration for safety on their part, I pulled up the USA Revdex.com, and looked at the other multiple complaints against this company. They ALL HAVE THE SAME LETTER with the same exact 3 coupons was sent to the complainant. I am outraged at this company that they would just bypass these kinds of things that are in their products. BONES the size of an inch!!!!! Yet they send out the same letter and coupons for more of their product. I sent them a second email, explaining that I feel that they lack concern regarding this issue and am sending back the coupons, which I already did. I also told them that I would contact Revdex.com and my local news stations, and would be contacting my local stores regarding their product. I have not heard from anyone.Desired Settlement: I want some kind of investigation on this company regarding these multiple safety issues that is obviously being over looked. It seems they have no cares that people are finding these things in their product or that these peoples safety and well being are at risk. I am not asking for any amount of money because of the fact that peoples lives are worth much more. If my pregnant daughter had swallowed this and somehow had some health issue or hospitalization, then that would be a different story. Other than that, I am fine with making this publicly known for everyone else's safety!!!

Business

Response:

Dear [redacted]:

Thank you for taking the time to contact us about our Coral Chunk Light Tuna in

Water.

We are truly sorry to hear that you daughter found the bone in our finished product. Bones are occasionally present in canned tuna, although every reasonable effort is made to remove them. Highly trained personnel trim the loins entirely by hand. After this process, the loins are inspected several times for the presence of any pieces, which may have been missed. Through this series of inspection steps, we are able to remove nearly 100% of all bones. On occasion, a bone is embedded in the loin and may be overlooked. The high sterilization process, after the fish has been canned, will normally soften them to the point where they will easily crumble.

Bumble Bee is committed to producing high quality products. We do our best to make sure that each of the millions of cans we produce every year meets our company's high quality standards, and we take any consumer feedback very seriously.

Be assured that Bumble Bee adheres to industry standards by inspecting the packaging several times throughout its processing and by utilizing the most modern quality control techniques and equipment. We apologize for any inconvenience you may have been caused and assure you your comments will be referred to our Quality Assurance department.

Thank you again for your interest in our products.

Sincerely,

Consumer Affairs Supervisor

Consumer

Response:

I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID [redacted], and have determined that this proposed action would not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

[This is the same letter I received from them the first time. They are not even reading the complaints! This is VERY UNPROFESSIONAL AND THEIR CONCERN IS APPALLING! This company obviously dont care for anyone's concern.]

Regards,