Ikea Hong Kong says it has suspended sales of frozen meatballs in its three stores after a customer complained of finding maggots in the product.
A spokesman for the Swedish retailer of self-assembly furniture and home accessories says the meatballs in question were part of the batch marked “best before June 21″ this year, says news website HK01.com. The “kyckling köttbullar” (chicken meatballs) were imported from Sweden.
Customers who have bought the meatballs can take them back to the stores for a full refund, says the spokesman.
A woman surnamed Fong told reporters she bought a pack of the meatballs for HK$79 (US$10) two months ago at Ikea’s Sha Tin store. After unpacking the meatballs and mixing them with spaghetti in a pot last week she had been shocked to see little white creatures like maggots coming out of the meatballs, reports Apple Daily.
Fong took a sample of the meatballs with the creatures to the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) the next day for examination.
Ikea says it launched an internal investigation after learning of the complaint.
Saying it is awaiting laboratory results, the FEHD sent staff to inspect the Ikea outlet where the meatballs had been bought. They reported that sanitation at the store was satisfactory with food products all properly stored.