Tesco Offers to Pay to Fix Cars Damaged by Tainted Fuel

LONDON -- Following a major mix-up last week in which its customers received tainted gasoline at the pump, global retailer Tesco said yesterday it would pay for related car repairs.

The retailer took out advertisements in national newspapers saying it had emptied unleaded fuel tanks at its filling stations in the southeast of the England, where the tainted fuel scare occurred.

"If petrol bought at Tesco has damaged your car, we'd like to say how sorry we are. More to the point, we'd like to promise to pay for the repairs," said Tesco in the advertisement.

Rigorous testing traced the problem to a supply of unleaded fuel from a storage facility used by one of its suppliers in Essex, the retailer said.

"All the affected stores in the southeast of England have been refueled with a fresh, clean supply," Tesco said. "So you'll be pleased to know you can buy our petrol with total confidence."

Thousands of consumers reported problems linked to the tainted gasoline last week, according to published reports. The outbreak was initially blamed on too much ethanol, but was later identified as a problem involving contamination with silicone.
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