Woolworths pull batch from shelves after Brisbane man finds dead cockroach inside caesar salad
It has not been a good week for Australia's biggest supermarkets, and the debacles are not slowing down.
A Brisbane man has uploaded photos claiming to have found a dead cockroach inside a pre-packaged caesar salad from supermarket giant Woolworths.
Sam Lester posted the images onto his Facebook page and also complained directly to the chain, describing the find as 'disappointing to see'.
The latest salad debacle has come to light just 24 hours after a woman, thought to be Zoe Perry, uploaded a video of a spider in a Woolworths salad bag.
Coles and Woolworths also issued an urgent national recall on Thursday of popular salad products after at least 54 reported cases of salmonella anatum strain linked to pre-packed lettuce distributed by Victorian-based company Tripod Farmers.
Mr Lester posted on the Woolworths Facebook account: "I've just looked at my salad for lunch to find a cockroach in it.
"After seeing yesterday a video of a spider in a bag of salad. This is is disappointing to see."
A Woolworths representative replied to the photos saying: "We're very concerned about this Sam, and take incidents like this very seriously.
"Please let us know your phone number and state in a Private Message so that we can follow this up with you ASAP. Thanks."
A Woolworths spokesman told Yahoo7: "Woolworths takes food safety very seriously. This is a Houston's Farm branded product which is supplied to Woolworths.
"While we investigate this issue with the customer and the supplier we are withdrawing this batch of product from sale."
On Friday Woolworths was also hit with a more than $3 million penalty for failing to swiftly alert the consumer watchdog about and continuing to stock a raft of dodgy products, including a house brand drain cleaner that burned a hole in a baby's leg.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) launched legal action against the retail giant in September 2014, alleging it had made false or misleading statements about a range of products and continued to sell them after receiving reports of injuries.
Federal Court Justice James Edelman on Friday slapped Woolworths with a $3 million pecuniary penalty for six courses of conduct involving the items, along with a $57,000 penalty for failing to comply with reporting obligations.
Rob McKibbin, 61, from Adelaide told Yahoo7 of his '10 days of hell' after contracting salmonella after eating Woolworths Select Salad Mix.
The law graduate passed out and became very ill on Sunday, January 31 after eating a meal of curried egg and the pre-packed salad product, he ended up at Modbury Hospital after collapsing at home last Wednesday night.
Doctors confirmed that he was suffering from salmonella and narrowed it down to the meal where he ate the pre-packaged salad leaves.
Mr McKibbin is now recovering after the ordeal and hopes not to be plagued by symptoms.
RECALLED PRODUCTS (Use-by date up to and including 14 February)
Woolworths Baby Spinach 100g
Woolworths Baby Rocket 100g
Woolworths Gourmet Mix 100g
Woolworths Fresh Cut Loose Baby Spinach 1kg
Woolworths Fresh Cut Salad Loose Mesculin 1kg
Wash N Toss Watercress 100g
Wash N Toss Sorrel 50g
Wash N Toss Baby Cos 100g
Wash N Toss Baby Spinach 100g
Wash N Toss Salad Mix 100g
Wash N Toss Wild Rocket 100g
Wash N Toss Kale 100g
Coles Australian Baby Spinach 60g
Coles Australian Baby Rocket 60g
Coles Australian Baby Rocket 120g
Coles Australian Spinach & Rocket 120g
Coles Australian Baby Spinach 120g
Coles Australian 4 Leaf Salad 120g
Coles Australian 4 Leaf Salad 200g
Supa Salad Supa salad 180g
Supa Salad Green Coral 180g
Supa Salad Supamix 1kg
Supa Salad Spinach 1kg
Supa Salad Rocket 1kg
Supa Salad Baby Cos 1kg
Supa Salad ALH 1kg
Supa Salad Spinach 180g
Clear Film Blend
Clear Film Spinach
Clear Film Baby Cos
