Published: Wednesday, 2nd December, 2009 2:00pm

Mum sick after eating raw chicken

by Claire Amber Young

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FOOD SHOCK: Nicola Giff, pictured with Megan, eight, and 16-month-old Aiden, was sick immediately after biting into the raw 'cooked' piece of chicken.

A DISGUSTED mum-of-two was violently sick after 'cooked' chicken she bought from Tesco turned out to be raw.

Nicola Giff, 27, bought three chicken thighs from the deli counter of Tesco Greenock for £1.20 on Monday.

The poultry pieces appeared ready to eat on the outside - but when Nicola tucked into one, she found it had not been cooked on the inside.

Nicola, from Caithness Road, Greenock, immediately realised the meat she bit into was raw - but fears her daughter, Megan, eight, and son, Aiden, 16 months, would not have been so observant.

She said: "It was disgusting. It looked cooked on the outside but when I peeled the skin back it was translucent.

"As soon as I bit into it, I could tell it wasn't right. It felt like a big bit of fat. I was sick immediately.

"Aiden is at the age where he wants a bit of whatever I'm eating. I hate to think what would have happened if he had eaten it. It's horrible to think about it.

"We have been Tesco customers for about three years and spend around £80 a week in the store.

"This kind of thing shouldn't be happening."

The other two chicken thighs bought from the store were also only partially cooked. Nicola claims Tesco customer services asked her to bring the chicken pieces, packaging and receipt back into the store.

When she returned, the manager apologised and explained too many thighs had been in the cooking tray, meaning some had not been cooked completely.

The family were offered a £20 gift voucher, then a £50 gift voucher, bottle of wine and flowers and eventually settled for a £100 gift voucher, bottle of wine and flowers.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "We are sorry to hear our customer had this experience and the product did not meet our usual high standards.

"The store is looking into this matter to ensure it does not happen again."