A Lidl shopper has warned others after claiming their red gem lettuce was teeming with thousands of bugs across its leaves. The customer said they bought the lettuce at their local Lidl store, but only noticed the insects when they got home.
Taking to social media, the shopper wrote: "1000s bugs in my red gem lettuce. Nearly ate them as I couldn’t see them on the darker outer layers. They were in every layer." The customer said the tiny bugs were spread throughout the lettuce, not just on the outside, raising concerns they could have been eaten without being spotted.
Other purchase issues
The shopper also described a separate problem with a recent Lidl purchase. They said they had bought a box of Lidl Lemsip the previous day, only to find some sachets missing when they got home.
They added: "This after yesterday I bought a box of Lidl Lemsip and someone had already stolen half the sachets. Didn't realise till I got home. Lovely."
Shoppers share experiences
Other customers commented on the post with their own advice and experiences. One person encouraged people to wash their vegetables before eating, saying: "There just aphids. They seem to be pretty bad this season. I've noticed them too. Just give it all a wash. Won't hurt"
Another user said: "Why do you think the packets always read wash before use? There's always a risk of bugs or dirt on these products." A third commented: "Means no pesticide, just wash it and enjoy not poisoned lettuce."
Lidl responds
A Lidl GB spokesperson said: "At Lidl GB, we work closely with our suppliers to ensure all our fresh produce meets strict quality standards."
"Although rare, natural occurrences like this can happen across the industry with fresh produce being grown outdoors, which is why we always advise customers to follow the ‘wash before use’ guidance on our packaging."
"Nevertheless, we never want a customer to be disappointed with their purchase, so we encourage anyone with a concern to contact our Customer Care team directly so we can look into it."
