Dear Migros
This is the second time we have noticed strange punctures in yoghurt lids. My partner wanted to eat a yogurt she bought yesterday at Migros Wetzikon when she noticed two puncture holes in the lid. The funny thing is that there are exactly the same holes (two holes with identical spacing) in the second yoghurt (double pack). We noticed this on another yogurt two months ago. We also disposed of this yogurt as a precaution.
As we do not know how these holes came about, we will also dispose of the yoghurts in this case as a precaution. What is certain is that it could not have happened during transportation. We didn't have anything sharp in the shopping bag that could have caused two punctures like this. The punctures in both yogurts are absolutely identical (as with a fork) and practically in the same place.
You can find a picture of the holes under the following links:
http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/1507/nqc3.jpg
http://img708.imageshack.us/img708/3648/uk7w.jpg
I would be very happy to receive clarification.
All replies (19)
This is kefir and not yogurt. Although yoghurt and kefir are both sour milk products, the difference is that yeasts are used in the fermentation of kefir. They turn sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxide, which is also the reason for the holes in the lid - if it weren't for them: At some point the cup would simply burst.
PS: If you had searched for kefir here on Migpedia, you would have seen that exactly this question has already been asked and answered sufficiently!
Ok, then it's probably not a typical yogurt. But fermentation is also carried out by lactic acid bacteria. But never mind.
I saw the article you described and now I don't know whether I should be reassured or rather shocked. If I hadn't read the Migros article myself, I would have thought it was an April Fool's joke. How does Migros come to make unprotected holes in a lid? This is not only super unhygienic (bacteria), but also grossly negligent. Just think of some weirdo who deliberately exploits precisely this defect and injects a substance through the existing holes using a cannula. The consumer has no way of checking the product for such defects because holes are "normal".
Nowadays there are such ingenious packaging solutions that I simply cannot believe that Migros cannot come up with anything better than making holes in the lids. By the way, why doesn't Migros declare on the packaging that holes in the lid are normal?
I have just read this text.
I am also very surprised that holes in the lid should be normal.
As I never buy kefir, I have never been confronted with this, but I share Copernicus' opinion that there should be a solution other than the holes...
The fact that other manufacturers do the same is no justification for not developing a more hygienic and safer packaging solution. It is unacceptable that Migros, as the largest food group in Switzerland, cannot think of anything better than making holes in the lids. Migros has the power to instruct its suppliers accordingly. It took me exactly 30 seconds on Google to find the following packaging solution: http://www.google.com/patents/EP... (publication date: Jan. 28, 1987). So there is no such thing as impossible here. Simply making holes in the lids is really more than Stone Age and, as I said, it can also be dangerous. There have been several cases in the USA where maliciously motivated people have injected poison into food. Touch wood - fortunately we have never had such a case. But imagine what would happen if someone were to inject a substance through these very holes. As a consumer, you would have no way of knowing before you consumed it. At the latest then Migros would no longer be able to claim that it had not thought of this. Because now there are already two articles here.
Apparently the link was not sent correctly. I'll try again: http://www.google.com/patents/EP0209729A2?cl=de
Guest
Hello everyone
I have just received information regarding the lids, the product managers told me the following in response to your question: "All kefir yoghurts have these small holes in the lid.
Reason: During kefir yoghurt production, fermentation occurs due to the yeast content of the kefir, which produces alcohol and CO2, among other things. The latter can ideally escape through the small holes in the yogurt lid. There is no health risk from the small holes."
I hope I have helped you with this answer.
Kind regards
Hanna, Migipedia team
Hello Hanna
No offense meant, but we already know that. Since the 2nd post we have been discussing here why Migros does not do this better.
1. you write that there is no health risk. How can you claim such a thing when the holes are continuous? Imagine the pallet with these yogurts is still in the warehouse and someone spills a cleaner on the yogurts. The employee in question might wipe it with a cloth - nothing happens. But because the lids have holes, liquids can also run in from the outside. This can also be blood, for example if a customer has cut themselves and a tiny droplet runs into one of these holes. You shouldn't paint the devil on the wall, but these things do happen. The statement made by your product managers is simply irresponsible. I run a company myself that also offers food and I know the hygiene standards of the food inspectorate. I don't know how you were able to convince the food inspector that this is safe packaging. He already turns his head when we put pet food next to pet-bottled drinks for humans.
I have already described the second point here. Too bad you didn't read it. The puncture holes could also be misused by a saboteur. Imagine someone injecting a poisonous substance into these holes with a syringe! As a consumer, you have no chance of detecting this. What you are doing here is simply negligent. Especially because there are packaging solutions! See: http://www.google.com/patents/EP0209729A2?cl=de
I definitely bought my last kefir yogurt at Migros. My health is simply worth more to me than the word of your product managers.
Guest
Hello Copernicus
Thanks for your comment and sorry I didn't read the conversation carefully. I will look into the matter again and get back to you as soon as I have news. No offense intended.
Best regards
Hanna, Migipedia team
Personally, I don't mind the two holes in the packaging, because wherever I have been served kefir so far, it has been offered to me openly and not always in the most sterile environment. I have never thought of an attack on my life and limb! :-)
Joking aside. While searching on Migipedia, I came across this article:
http://w ww.migipedia.ch/de/lebensmittel/fertiggerichte/gemuese/antipasti/m-classic-sauerkraut-l-plus/600g
At the top left it says: "CAUTION transport bag upright".
M-Infoline has answered why at the link or can be read from the manufacturer of the WICOVALVE®.
http://w ww.wicovalve.com/site-de/einsatzbereich/sauerkraut/rohprodukte.html
Why not also for kefir?
Hello Instanbul
That's exactly the point. It would actually be possible, but apparently it's simply not done for cost reasons. I think it makes a big difference whether I buy open kefir from a farmer or from Migros, where the logistics routes are long and the products pass through several hands. What's more, the holes are made in the lids afterwards and therefore go from the outside to the inside. The other way around would be much more hygienic.
But either way, I'm very much looking forward to Migros' response.