Beware of frozen seafood at Lidl Lidl customers might like to know just how ready this company is to avoid properly investigating matters where the safety of its food products is, shall we say, questionable. Frozen seafood is particularly susceptible to becoming dangerous for human consumption on account of how long it is kept, how it is stored, and whether adequate cooking instructions are given on the product wrapping. About ten days ago, I bought a packet of Chilean frozen Mussels (CARNE DE MEJILLÓN DE CHILE), by Alma Latina. This product is apparently sold in various European countries, to judge by the instructions printed on the reverse of the packet in 4-5 different languages, including Greek. Consequently, with so much information compressed into one small area, the instructions are tiny, jammed together, and extend for perhaps half an inch around the front of the package, making them difficult to read, even when the frozen contents have been removed and the packaging has been flattened. I was astonished to see that there was NO printed guidance on the product packaging as to how long defrosting should take. More seriously, I was unable to find ANY mention of cooking times, raising the spectre that this food might be dangerous to eat. But I took a chance, defrosting it for an hour or so, and then cooking the contents for a few minutes in my microwave. No ill effects…..this time…..but what if I hadn’t defrosted. Or given too little defrosting? Or under-cooked the frozen food???? The mussels were bland and uninteresting – definitely not something I would buy again. But in replying, Lidl asked me to provide full product details (the barcode number, lot numbers and Best Before/Use By Date. Or alternatively, to send photographs of the product packaging. How many different versions of CARNE DE MEJILLÓN DE CHILE does Lidl sell in the UK? 5 different versions? 10 versions? When I googled this Lidl product name, it immediately produced an image of the front of the same typing of package I’d bought. Crucially, however, there was NO photo of the back of the package to give the game away!! I was able to supply Lidl with the best before date from the back of the packet plus another series of unexplained numbers, and the name of the Lidl branch where I had purchased it, but that was all. I no longer had the packaging. Who wants to keep frozen seafood packaging around inside the house? In response to the information I sent them, Lidl wrote back rather pompously: “....What our customers have to say about our products is of great importance to us. It is only on receipt of such information that we are able to maintain and improve the standard of service that we offer our customers. Our Buying Team are focuses on selecting only the most reputable suppliers who meet the strict standards of quality control we insist upon. Unfortunately, without the information requested, we were unable to conduct a complete assessment of this case, as we unable to identify the exact product and production details….” Moral: Never buy frozen food at Lidl IF defrosting and cooking times are NOT clearly printed on the packet. Otherwise, the buyer might be spending long hours in the bathroom!