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Vegan Greggs customer 'traumatised' after being served pork sausage roll

16:11, 25 September 2019

updated: 11:20, 26 September 2019

A vegan is demanding a public apology from Greggs after being served a pork sausage roll by the bakery chain.

Sharleen Ndungu says she started having heart palpitations and burst into tears after biting into the popular savoury snack at a branch in Canterbury and realising it contained meat.

Vegan Greggs customer 'traumatised' after being served pork sausage roll

The 20-year-old - who says she ordered a vegan version - returned to the firm's high street branch, where she was offered a £2 refund by a manager.

She instead called Greggs' customer service and was offered a £30 voucher, but says she turned it down.

"I was asking for a public apology to make people aware that they should watch out for things like this," she said.

"People can be allergic to pork and potentially die from such a stupid mistake.

"It's my choice not to consume meat because it causes cancer. That choice has been taken away from me."

Sharleen Ndungu is demanding a public apology from Greggs for the gaffe
Sharleen Ndungu is demanding a public apology from Greggs for the gaffe

The student, who posted three videos on Twitter about her experience, also fears the same blunder could affect someone who does not eat meat for religious reasons.

She says the ordeal may stop her going to other food outlets for fear of the same happening again.

"I haven't had meat in two years," she added. "My belly started hurting and my heart started going crazy.

"I was panicking because that only happens when I consume meat - this doesn't happen when I have other food.

"I'm traumatised for life now - I'm never going to Greggs again."

Sharleen was served the sausage roll at the Canterbury branch of Greggs
Sharleen was served the sausage roll at the Canterbury branch of Greggs

A shift manager at the Canterbury branch told KentOnline: "We have a fix-it-now company policy where we offer the customer a refund straight away. If they don’t accept that then we will put them through to head office.

“She definitely received an apology - it is company standard."

A Greggs spokesperson said: "We have apologised to the customer for this incident. We are investigating to ensure this situation can be avoided in the future.”

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