Our Ref: CW0064

8 April 1997

Mr Ravenscroft
23 Hillside View
New Mills
High Peak
SK22 3DF

Dear Mr Ravenscroft

I write further to your letter dated the 1st April 1997, regarding your complaint of a recent purchase of our Linda McCartney Deep Country Pies, which you believe contained meat. On behalf of the Company I would like to apologise for the upset and the inconvenience that you have been caused.

I would like to assure you that the products in our range are produced in a factory in Norfolk, which is totally dedicated to the Linda McCartney range and no other products are made there. The factory is totally meat free and the staff canteen is also totally vegetarian as no meat is allowed on site. This new factory took in a number of environmentally friendly issues during building, eg, uses ozone-friendly ammonia refrigerants, catalytic converters and natural gas.

A number of our products including the Deep Country Pies contain Textured Vegetable Protein which, not only looks like meat, but also has a similar taste. This is a meat substitute, ideal for Vegetarians, who, whilst liking the taste and texture of meat, are against the slaughter of animals.

The factory Technical Manager at the production unit concerned has assured me that controls within the factory are very strict: and the staff are fully aware on the handling of vegetarian products.

I hope I have allayed your fears, as all of our vegetarian customers are very important to us. We would have liked the opportunity to discuss this matter further with you over the telephone and are sorry that you feel you are unable to phone us, however if you would like someone to phone on your behalf we will gladly discuss this matter with them for you. It would also be useful to know if there is any remaining product available so that we can have it analysed to help put your mind at ease.

Once again I would like to thank you for the time and trouble you have taken to contact us about your complaint and I look forward to hearing from you, a stamped addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience.

Assuring you of our best attention at all times.

Yours sincerely

Mrs Angie Wilding
Customer Care Department