Aldi customer stunned after finding a snake in a bag of broccoli stored in the fridge for three days
An Aldi customer had a horrifying experience after discovering a snake in a bag of broccoli.
Neville Linton, 63, was shocked to find the reptile, capable of a nasty bite, hidden in his groceries.
Man stunned after discoverin the snake in the Broccoli
Neville Linton purchased the broccoli at an Aldi store in Stourbridge, West Midlands.
He stored it in the fridge for three days before using it to prepare dinner.
Upon opening the bag, he was stunned to find a young ladder snake nestled near the stem of the broccoli.
He said: ‘I thought she was joking at first, but I backed off when I saw it start moving. The guy in the shop was pretty frightened too.’
Linton, who works in industrial cleaning, has a fear of snakes. He immediately called his relatives for help. They managed to contain the snake and later took it to Dudley Zoo for identification.
The snake’s identity after being found in a bag of Broccoli
The snake was identified as a young ladder snake, a non-venomous species found in southwestern Europe.
Although harmless, the snake can deliver a painful bite.
Linton’s family feared the consequences had the snake escaped in their home, especially since they have vulnerable residents.
Linton expressed concern over the emotional impact of the incident.
His phobia of snakes and the potential danger to his disabled son and vulnerable mother-in-law made the situation even more stressful.
He added: ‘It’s just not good enough – the implications for us if it had got out in the house are huge. Plus, I’m phobic of snakes so there’s the emotional impact of that too.’
Though Aldi offered compensation, Linton felt it was insufficient.
Aldi responsed after the incident
Aldi apologized for the incident and stated that they are investigating the matter.
They assured customers that they have robust processes in place to prevent such issues.
Linton, however, is pushing for more compensation due to the potential risks posed by the snake in his home.
Ladder snakes, mostly found in southern Europe, can be aggressive and release a foul odor when threatened.