WARNING: Graphic images
A Queensland grandmother sustained third-degree burns to her arm after she claimed a popular Woolworths deli buy “exploded” in her kitchen.
The woman, known as Angela, said she felt “incredible pain” from her injury that allegedly happened on February 14 while she was cooking the supermarket’s Bag N Bake fish product for dinner.
Angela has been left with a “very noticeable” scar from the incident.
The Bag N Bake concept allows customers to select their own fish fillet and marinade from the Woolworths deli section and have it packed in a ready-to-cook ovenproof bag by supermarket staff.
Angela told 7 News that she went to remove the bag from the oven when “it just exploded” and the hot sauce splattered on her arm and on the kitchen floor.
“You can tell by the picture that the sauce ran down my arm. The sugar in the marinade made it even hotter. It was so, so painful,” she said.
“When it happened, I immediately ran it under water and put burn cream on it and then served dinner … I think it was a bit of shock.
“The worst thing is, what would’ve happened if there was a child nearby?
“If there was a child close by, and they’re lower than us, imagine if that had got them in the face or something?”
The following day, Angela went to see a doctor and treat her third-degree burn, something she said wasn't simple because she needed to get it redressed and cleaned every two days for about two weeks.
“That was a pain in the a**e. I was not able to wet it. I had to wear rubber gloves that were sticky-taped down when I went in the shower.
“(I‘m) feeling a little miserable when I look at the massive scar that is very, very noticeable unfortunately.
“That scar won’t go away now, and it’s on an area of my arm where I can’t hide it.”
Angela said she used the product “all the time” and had previously had no issues with it.
She believed the issue lied with a “bad batch of bags” that “didn’t seal properly” at the deli.
The grandmother said she been in contact with Woolworths and was satisfied with how the major retailer handled the matter.
“I don’t think there was any malice from Woolworths, I honestly don’t,” Angela said.
“But now that they’ve been made aware, they have hopefully removed that batch of bags or had that batch checked.”
Woolworths said the company had been in contact with Angela and would continue to work to resolve the issue directly with her.
“Our thoughts are with the customer and we wish her well,” it said in a statement.
NCA NewsWire understands the incident is isolated and Woolworths has not had any other similar reports.
Customers are advised to follow all instructions outlined on the product labelling.
