Foam is found in Tesco sandwich

A supermarket giant has been ordered to pay more than £31,000 after a customer discovered a chunk of insulation foam inside a baguette.

Sam Avery bought the sandwich at a Tesco Metro store in Norwich in 2004.

Tesco pleaded guilty at Norwich Magistrates' Court on Monday to selling food which was not of the substance or quality demanded by the purchaser.

The firm was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay £15,944 costs. Mr Avery was awarded £250 compensation.

'Profusely sorry'

Clair Dobbin, prosecuting on behalf of Norwich City Council, said experts who examined the baguette thought it contained some sort of foam insulation.

The court heard the foam was clearly visible under the surface of the bread and had probably been baked into the bread during production.

The court heard Tesco repeatedly declined to be interviewed about the matter and a summons was served in August 2005.

Mark Harris, representing Tesco, said: "The company apologises for having committed this offence.

"The sale by this company of products not of the quality demanded is something it tries diligently to avoid and is profusely sorry when it does occur.

"The company has written to Mr Avery expressing our apologies to him and enclosing vouchers in the sum of £100."