Housemates in Western Australia got more than they bargained for when they opened a bag of lettuce from a discount supermarket and found a live frog. Laura Jones and Billie Le Pine, who were not the ones to open the packet, described the discovery as 'the most random thing' they had encountered. The frog, estimated to be the size of a man's palm, was found in a sealed plastic bag of lettuce bought for $1.15 at a Woolworths store in Esperance.
Jones joked about the situation, saying, 'Look, if I was in a French supermarket, I probably would have got a two for one deal on that one.' Woolworths said it was an 'isolated incident' and that it was investigating 'as a priority'. A spokesperson noted that suppliers have rigorous processes, including washing and quality checks, to maintain product quality.
The housemates named the frog Greg and released it into a nearby dam, playing the song 'Crazy Frog' as a send-off. Frog expert Dr Jodi Rowley identified the frog as a bell frog, possibly a motorbike frog if from Western Australia, or a threatened green and golden bell frog or southern bell frog if from the east coast. She noted that frogs often hitchhike in produce and encouraged anyone finding a frog to contact an expert rather than releasing it, as it may not survive outside its natural habitat and could spread disease.
Woolworths apologised to the customer and provided a replacement item. The incident gained national attention, with Jones and Le Pine appearing on ABC news breakfast.
