A Lidl customer has issued a warning after claiming to find “thousands” of insects inside a red gem lettuce purchased at the supermarket. The shopper said the bugs were present in every layer of the vegetable, and they nearly ate them because they were not visible on the darker outer leaves.
Shopper's discovery
Taking to social media, the customer explained that they had visited their local Lidl branch and picked up a red gem lettuce along with other groceries. It was only after returning home that they noticed the unpleasant surprise hidden among the leaves.
“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 shopper wrote.
The customer also claimed that during a previous visit to the supermarket, they bought a box of Lidl Lemsip and later discovered that half of the sachets were missing. “Didn't realise till I got home. Lovely,” they added.
Other shoppers respond
Other shoppers reacted to the post with their own experiences. One person said they had noticed the bugs on their lettuces too, writing: “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 commenter pointed out that washing fresh produce is recommended before eating, noting that packets always read “wash before use” because there is always a risk of bugs or dirt on these products. A third user took a positive view, saying: “Means no pesticide, just wash it and enjoy not poisoned lettuce.”
Lidl's response
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.”
The spokesperson added: “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.”
