The Lehi resident found the remnant Sunday in a can of green beans that she purchased from a Wal-Mart in American Fork.

Watson, 49, was preparing lunch for her family, when she noticed something unusual in the pan.

"I'm queasy just talking about it," she said Monday. "Thank goodness it ended up on the top and not the bottom, so I didn't serve it to them."

When Watson called the Wal-Mart store Sunday, she said a manager told her to put the item in a bag in her freezer but that it might take up to two years for the matter to be resolved.

"They just said that they didn't want me to bring it in because they can be accused of tampering," said Watson.

Wal-Mart spokeswoman Deisha Galberth on Monday said, "Food safety is a top priority, and we are investigating this situation thoroughly. Our store has inspected similar product on our shelves and feel confident that this complaint is an isolated incident."

Galberth said Wal-Mart had contacted the supplier, Arkansas-based Allen Canning, and was working with that company. She declined to say midday Monday whether other Allen products had been removed from the shelves of the American Fork store and referred all other questions to Allen.

A representative from Allen who was designated to talk with The Tribune did not return calls on Monday, but someone from Allen did contact Watson by phone late Monday, after she had talked with The Tribune.

Watson said she was told that the rodent head probably got into the beans while they were in the field, and not while they were being processed in a factory.

"I asked about [what happened to] the remaining parts of the mouse, and they told me, 'Anything is possible, but if that was the case, we'd expect more phone calls,' '' said Watson.

"Having been raised as a farmer's daughter, I have some compassion for the company," she added, noting that Allen offered her a check for $100 out of a "gesture of good will."

Watson said the caller from Allen told her the likelihood of other cans being contaminated was slim, given that the cans are cooked individually after they are sealed. The company also told her that items in the factory go through six checks before they are put into cans, two of which are performed by humans.

Watson told The Tribune she was concerned similar cans of Allen products were still on the shelves at Wal-Mart, even though the caller from Allen told her that items with the same batch number were being removed. When Watson returned to the store Monday afternoon, she confirmed that none of the batch in question was on the shelves.

One question neither representatives from Allen nor Wal-Mart could answer for Watson was whether similar Allen items would be pulled from other Wal-Mart stores.

Watson has consulted an attorney but does not think she will pursue legal action. She said she does want to prevent other consumers from going through a similar ordeal. Drawing from her experience, she advised anyone else finding a contaminated can to ''write everything down that happened in chronological order, take pictures with a camera that leaves a date mark and keep all of the cans, including those without the problem. Also, write down batch numbers and talk to a store manager.''

Watson said she would consider shopping at Wal-Mart again, but doubts she would buy the Allen brand.

"Until I'm reassured that it's just an isolated incident, I won't."

blange@sltrib.com