Breakfast will never be the same again for a schoolgirl who found herself munching on a dirty looking feather in a supermarket ham sandwich.

Ten-year-old Tanika Nadarajah was on her way to school with mum Shanthini Nadarajah when they stopped off at Tesco in Mitcham Road, Tooting, to get some breakfast.

The youngster chose her favourite- a ham, cheese and pickle sandwich which she tucked into in the car before school.

But to her horror she found herself biting into a small grey feather nestling on top of a layer of cheese.

 

Your Local Guardian:

The offending sandwich, with the feather clearly visible. 

She has since developed a rash and needed time off school to seek medical advice.

The family, of Woodland Way, Mitcham, got a refund from the Tesco store for the own-brand sandwich which costs £2.30 but are demanding answers from the supermarket about why it happened.

"It is not the cost, I want to know why and what they are going to do about it," Tanika’s uncle Sammy Menan said.

Your Local Guardian:

A ham, cheese, pickle and feather sandwich. 

Mr Menan said his niece got an itchy rash on her face and had to take a day off school to visit the doctor on Monday, September 22.

He said: "She has scratch marks on her face from itching.

"She felt like vomiting when it happened.

"It is her favourite sandwich - she eats it every day."

The family pick up breakfast on the way to Franciscan Primary School in Franciscan Road, Tooting, and often have croissants or a sandwich to start the day.

Tanika was back at school the following day on Tuesday.

Mr Menan said he had given the offending sandwich back to Tesco so it could be investigated but said he had not been given any answers.

He said it made them not want to shop at their local Tesco store.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We are concerned to hear about this and are fully investigating the issue."