In Birmingham, UK, Neville Linton, aged 63, encountered a surprising find when he opened a bag of broccoli from Aldi. Tucked within the broccoli’s stem, he discovered a live snake, still wriggling after three days.
Overcome with fear due to his phobia of snakes, Linton relied on his sister’s assistance to return the broccoli to the store. The store manager, equally taken aback, examined the unusual find.
Experts later determined the snake was likely a young ladder snake, a non-venomous species known to bite only in defense. However, herpetologist Dr. Steven J. R. Allain suggested it could be a viperine water snake, a harmless species native to Southern Europe. Linton voiced worries about the potential risks to his vulnerable family members, including his disabled son and mother-in-law. Aldi issued an apology and committed to enhancing their safety protocols. The snake, now safely housed at Dudley Zoo, likely stowed away during the broccoli’s harvest in a Mediterranean region. Despite its alarming presence, the snake presents minimal threat to humans.
