November 05,1997
Dear Wrigley Gum People,
Riddle me this. What's yellow, excruciatingly painful to live with and extremely difficult to get rid of? ... Yoko Ono? ... Big Bird? ... Bill Clinton?...Sure, but those answers would be too easy and would have little or no relevance to my problem which I wish to bring to your attention with this letter. The correct answer to the riddle is a throbbing, infected, puss filled canker sore. Last week I made the mistake of purchasing and consuming the Peppermint flavor EXCEL gum produced by your company. A short time later I noticed the early signs of canker formation. Before long I was suffering the effects of a full blown canker sore. And we're not talking about some sissy canker either. This was the mother of all cankers. Is it your company's intent to cause the general public needless pain? If not, why are there no warnings on your packages cautioning consumers as to the potential for harmful side-effects. I doubt that I am the only person who has raised this point. What does your company plan to do about this? I anxiously await your reply.
Sincerely yours,
John Doh
P.O. BOX 2959
Hearst, Ontario
P0L 1N0
November 17, 1997
Mr. John Doh
P.O. Box 2959
Hearst, ON POL INO
Dear Mr. Doh:
This is in response to your recent letter regarding the problem you encountered with our sugarfree EXCEL Peppermint brand.
You may be among a small percentage of people who are sensitive to one or more of the ingredients used in this brand and we strongly recommend you bring this to the attention of your family physician or allergist. We have never had a complaint of this nature with our EXCEL brand since its introduction to the marketplace in 1991. Chewing gum is classified as a food and the ingredients in Wrigley brands are approved by Health Protection Branch of Canada. Millions of people enjoy EXCEL with no problem.
Food sensitivities vary widely from individual to individual and products that
can be enjoyed by a vast majority of consumers may have to be avoided by a few others. If you can possibly send in the sample and the wrapper we will have our lab analyze the gum for you. A stamped, self-addressed envelope is enclosed for your convenience.
We are sorry to learn you feel your problem is associated with our product and hope you can provide us with the sample.
Yours very truly,
Joan Carr
Consumer Affairs Administrator
Wrigley Canada Inc.
1123 Leslie St.
Toronto, Ontario
M3C 2KI
Attention: Joan Carr
December 08, 1997
Dear Madame Carr,
Thank you very, very much for your wonderful letter. Being a recluse, such as I am, I don't get many letters from regular folk such as yourself. The stigma of mental illness has caused many to shun me and look away in disgust. Is it really my fault that I am forced to wear Depends undergarments? But I digress.... I can absolutely assure you that the monster canker I received was not from personal health problems, but from a toxic piece of Wrigley gum. I have constant medical check-ups because my jobs require it. Not only am I training for the Olympics as a body-builder (I just achieved freak status in the sport, by the way), I am also a back--up dancer for the Spice Girls. Now do you honestly think the insurance companies would handle me if I did not have regular medical exams? Well, do you? So Joan, the ball is now in your court. I beg you to do your corporate duty. The Horror, the horror. The Canadian public has no hankering for such a cankering.
Sincerely yours,
John Doh
P.O. BOX 2959
Hearst, Ontario
P0L 1N0
December 16,1997
Mr. John Doh
P.O. Box 2959
Hearst, ON POL INO
Dear Mr. Doh:
This is a further to our previous correspondence with you requesting samples for the complaint you registered with us during the month of November, against our EXCEL Peppermint brand.
Without the actual sample, requested in my letter dated November 17th we cannot do a complete analysis for you. We would like to assure, you once again, that every possible effort is taken to ensure a safe, top-quality product for our consumers and our ingredients are approved by the Health Protection Branch of Canada.
We are sorry you felt this experience was connected to our product. Enclosed is a complimentary box of sugarfree EXCEL Peppermint with our best wishes for a happy holiday season.
Yours very truly,
WRIGLEY CANADA INC.
Joan Carr
Consumer Affairs Administrator
