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A lifelong vegetarian had her first bite of meat after ordering a vegetarian hot dog at IKEA and being given a regular one, containing meat.

The woman was furious about the mistake and wants something done about it.

She contacted Devon Live with her concerns after her experience at IKEA Exeter.

Fern Jackson, 22, from Dorset, had never eaten meat and a quick meal at IKEA turned into a nightmare.

She told Devon Live: "I ordered a vegetarian hot dog from the deli area and when it arrived it looked just like the picture that was shown next to it on the menu board.

"I put some ketchup on and took a bite, but as soon as I did I knew something was not quite right.

"I told my grandma it didn't taste right and we called the manager over to have a look.

"She told me it definitely wasn't a vegetarian hot dog."

Miss Jackson asked to see what a vegetarian hot dog looked like, so the manager brought one over.

Fern said: "They look completely different. A meat hot dog looks like a normal Frankfurter but the vegetarian one is clearly lots of vegetables like peas and sweetcorn compressed together.

"I was so angry - it's the first time meat has passed between my lips in 22 years.

"I have never eaten meat, fish or even gelatin my entire life. My mum was even vegetarian when she was pregnant with me.

"My body isn't used to meat so I think I had a bad reaction. It lasted for about two days.

"I think it left me pretty mentally shaken as well, I have never liked the idea of eating something that was once living and that has really played on my mind."

She wants change

The manager apologised to Miss Jackson on the day, but Fern wants more. She wants change to come from her nightmare experience.

Fern said: "Sorry just doesn't cut it I'm afraid.

"If it were a Muslim and they had served them pork, that wouldn't be acceptable - so why is it any different for me?

"I sent an email to Ikea's head office about it and they didn't get back to me.

"They did forward the email on to the manager at Exeter I had already spoken to and she said all the staff are re-doing their allergen training, but to me that is just not good enough.

"I want to know that they are changing the picture of the vegetarian hot dog on the menu so people don't get confused. If it has happened to me, it's bound to have happened to others elsewhere.

"I'm not after any compensation or anything - if I did get any I would donate it to an animal chairity.

"I want them to prove to me that this will never be allowed to happen again. I'm very angry at the whole situation, it's been a really bad experience for me."

Lorena Lourido, country IKEA food manager for IKEA UK & Ireland said: “It is of the highest importance that ingredients in the food sold in our Restaurant, Swedish Food Market and Bistro are clearly communicated.

"We understand that this incident would have been extremely distressing for the customer and we have been in direct contact with them to apologise.

"We take this matter very seriously and we have reviewed our co-worker training on allergens and dietary preferences as a result.”

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