A Tesco shopper got more than she bargained for when she discovered a live snake in her bag of broccoli.
Tina Cosby, of Halstead in Essex, was preparing tea for her family when she found the foot-long grey and black snake curled around the veg.
According to reports in The Sun she said: “I took out the bag and put it on my kitchen worktop while I untied it.
“I was about to put my hand in to pull out the broccoli when I suddenly saw this snake inside. Its beady eyes opened and I threw a fit. It was staring at me and its little tongue was poking in and out.
"I was shaking and so terrified that I could feel my heart racing. I had to have a cup of tea to calm down - and then I felt sick.” Bushel suggests a new brand of tea perhaps.
Tina’s husband fortunately came to the rescue and took the reptile to the local vet, where it was discovered to be a non-venomous horseshoe snake.
A complaint was lodged with Tesco, and Tina is reported to have received an apology and £50 in vouchers, however she is seeking further compensation.
Tesco chiefs have now launched an inquiry to find out how the snake got into the broccoli, which came from Spain.
A spokesman said: “This obviously caused a bit of a shock. Our suppliers are going to review quality-checking procedures to ensure this cannot happen again.”
