Isn’t it frustrating when you grab something at the grocery store, only to discover it’s not as fresh as you expected when you return home? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought a bag of apples, only to discover a couple of bruised ones. Or the annoyance of forgetting to check a box of eggs, only to find one is cracked later. And who hasn’t had the misfortune of grabbing a loaf of bread that’s already moldy?
But one thing I can confidently say I’ve never encountered during my weekly grocery trips is a live creature…
I doubt many of our readers have stumbled upon any slithering reptiles lurking amidst their products, but one man from Birmingham, UK, certainly did.
Reports detail Neville Linton’s experience at an Aldi grocery store last year. He purchased a bunch of broccoli, only to discover a live snake coiled within it upon returning home.
The 63-year-old, in the midst of meal preparation, was startled to spot the non-venomous snake, later identified as a ladder snake, near the broccoli stem.
“It was quite frightening. I’m not comfortable with snakes,” Neville shared. “Fortunately, I didn’t just leave the broccoli lying around in the kitchen, or it could have been loose in the house. That would have posed a significant risk for us, as we have two vulnerable individuals living here.”
Aldi customer horrified after discovering a young ladder snake in his bag of broccoli pic.twitter.com/g9IL2kzqFr
— DTN NEWS (@DTNNEWUpdates) July 2, 2023
According to Sky News, ladder snakes are native to southwestern Europe, including Portugal, Spain, and France. While not venomous, they can deliver a serious bite.
Realizing the creature was too large to be a mere caterpillar or insect, Neville secured it in a container and returned it to the store.
“The staff at the shop were quite startled too,” he recalled.
Aldi reportedly offered Neville compensation, but he found the proposed amount unsatisfactory.
“It’s simply inadequate,” he expressed. “The potential consequences for us if it had escaped in the house are considerable. Plus, I have a phobia of snakes, so there’s also the emotional impact to consider.”
Have you ever encountered a similar situation? Share your experiences in the comments below.
