Iceland: Blackburn man says he found poo in shopping bags

Phill Smith, of Blackburn, said he ordered the shopping from the Iceland food store online last Tuesday (November 21) and as he went to the kitchen to unload the carrier bags, a large amount of faeces fell out one of the bags.

On closer inspection, he says the faeces appears to be that of a dog or a cat.

Phill said he did not want compensation and had only asked for a refund.

Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph he said: “It is disgusting. There are no other words. 

“I had been away for a month and needed some shopping so ordered online.

“I normally go to Asda but this time round opted for Iceland. I have ordered from there before so thought nothing of it.

“The bags arrived and they were dropped off in the hallway. I then took them to the kitchen and started taking things out.

“Then all this poo fell out and I was totally shocked. I thought what on earth is this?

“I checked another bag and saw diarrhoea.

“I am quite squeamish as it is and this was disgusting and sickening.”

Some of the faeces​ that fell out of the bag and the shopping bags waiting to be collected. A picture of the diarrhoea in another bag.

Phill, 59, says he rang Iceland almost immediately and asked them to collect the bags.

“I just did not want them in the house.

"If I wanted to be covered in s*** I would go on ‘I’m a celebrity’."

Phill said he did not want compensation but just some acknowledgement after spending £148.10 on the shopping.

The customer said he was asked to keep a sample by health officers which he has done

Phill who does not have any pets of his own said any compensation or vouchers would be donated to an animal charity.

He said he was only contacted on Saturday and finally offered a refund.

He said: “The reason I am speaking out is because over the past few days they have just been flippant with me.

“I just want a refund and am not interested in compensation. If I am offered anything it will go to an animal charity.

“It is a matter of principle.

“I told them at the time I don’t want a replacement and I wanted them to just pick it up.”

A driver returned to pick up the shopping bags which Phill had left back in the hallway just before 9pm on the same day.

The experience has left Phill traumatised and he says he had to bleach the whole area.

He said: “I am a clean person and I set about cleaning the area thoroughly. I took everything out of the fridge that was already in there and cleaned it.

“I have no idea how the poo has got in there. I am not a dog owner and I have CCTV footage of the delivery itself.

“I contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council and I have to say they were really good and the health inspector turned up within 15 minutes and took down all my details.

“They said they would be visiting the Iceland store.”

Blackburn with Darwen Council confirmed that a complaint was made to the Environmental Health team but referred to Hyndburn Council as the store was Hyndburn-based.

Hyndburn Council said they have not received a complaint and therefore ‘no investigation was taking place’.

Iceland were contacted for comment on Thursday last week but have not provided a statement although did confirm an investigation is under way.