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'Could have choked': Coles shopper's warning after rogue item found in salad

A Coles customer has vowed never to purchase pre-packed salads from the supermarket again after discovering a rogue piece of rubber inside a bag of lettuce.

Bea Smith picked up the bag of iceberg blend from the retailer’s store in Ayr, south of Townsville in Queensland, on the weekend.

It wasn’t until she was putting together lunch for her husband that she spotted a blue rubbery object disguised among the cabbage and carrot.

Coles fridge displaying pre-packed salads inside the Ayr store in Queensland.
The shopper has vowed to cease buying pre-packed salads from Coles. Source: Google Maps/Claus Hinsch

“I was making a wrap for my husband's work lunch when I found it in a handful of salad I'd put into it. It was so lucky I found it first before he bit into it,” Mrs Smith told Yahoo News Australia.

“He could have choked on it at work if I hadn't of found it before I wrapped it up.”

The foreign object had the appearance of a “rubber bumper or rubber stop” Mrs Smith said, adding that it “didn't smell but was smooth to the touch”.

She said after contacting Coles they presented her with an option to have the bag replaced, which she refused in favour of buying loose leaves with a refund instead.

Photo shows iceberg blend with blue object inside the bag.
The blue rubbery object was found in the bag as Mrs Smith was making her husband's lunch. Source: Facebook

“I don't know what's in the salads anymore. I won't be buying them again. I'll go back to making all my salads from scratch,” she said.

A Coles spokesperson said the contamination was being investigated.

“Coles takes the quality of all our products seriously. We have contacted the customer and will follow up with our supplier to investigate the matter,” they told Yahoo News Australia.

“As always we encourage customers to return any item they’re not 100 per cent happy with to their nearest store for a full refund or replacement.”

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