Accidental Product Contamination

A well known brewer, which sold considerable amounts of a particular brand of bottled beer throughout the UK, suddenly began to receive a number of complaints from end users who had found splinters of glass in the beer once the metal screw caps had been removed. In certain cases, end users, who had drunk straight from the bottle, had suffered cuts to the mouth due to the splintering of the necks of the bottles upon being opened.

Full investigation revealed a fault in the manufacture of the glass bottles, and, as a result, a total recall of the product was undertaken throughout the UK . The cost of recall, disposal, replacement of product and business interruption/loss of market issues were evaluated at over £5 million.

After detailed negotiations, the Brewer and his Insurers were able to obtain a full recovery of their losses/costs from the third party glass bottle manufacturer.