A 15-year-old girl, who became ill after eating chocolates from a "beetle-infested" packet of Munchies, has been awarded just over £5,000 damages against the manufacturers, NestlΘ Ireland Ltd. Sarah Nugent, of Parkhill West, Kilnamanagh, Tallaght, Dublin, who is now 17, suffered gastritis and vomited for several days after the incident, the Circuit Civil Court heard.
Mr Gavin Mooney, counsel for Ms Nugent, told the Circuit Court President, Mr Justice Esmond Smyth, it was only after having eaten a number of the sweets that Sarah noticed the packet was infested with Merchant grain beetles. A public analyst had examined the infested Munchies and, while stating that the beetles were harmless to health, had found their presence would render the sweets not of merchantable quality. One live Merchant grain beetle had been found in one packet and two live specimens in the other. One dead dehydrated beetle had also been found.
Mr Mooney, recommending the court's approval of a £5,157 settlement offer on behalf of Nestle, said Sarah's phobic tendencies had diminished considerably since the incident in September 1999.