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A man who went to a supermarket to get some groceries came back with a snake and didn’t realize it until after the animal got familiar with his food.
Neville Linton, a 63-year-old man, purchased broccoli from an Aldi store in Stourbridge, England last month. He kept it in his fridge and used it for cooking after three days.
Upon unwrapping the broccoli, the man was surprised to see an unexpected guest. Keep reading to find out what happened and check out our conversation with Dr. Steven J R Allain, also known as The pop-punk Herpetologist.
A snake that was exploring a broccoli field somewhere in southwestern Europe got packed up and shipped to a British supermarket
![Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation](https://vietnews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/man-finds-snake-in-broccoli-aldi-64a2711c8a3e3__700.jpg)
Without suspecting, Neville Linton, 63, picked it up together with a bag of vegetables and took the reptile home
![Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation](https://vietnews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/man-finds-snake-in-bag-of-broccoli-aldi-7-64a26be16c711__700.jpg)
Neville, who is in the industrial cleaning business, was shocked by what he witnessed.
He expressed his fear, saying it was quite scary. Snakes are not his strong suit. He mentioned how fortunate he was for not leaving the broccoli in the kitchen, as it could have escaped inside the house.
It would have been a big risk for us since we have two vulnerable individuals residing here.
He discovered the creature was not a caterpillar, so he contacted his sister Ann-Marie Tenkanemin, who confirmed it was a snake.
They put it in a tub and returned to the Aldi store on Dudley Road where Neville bought it.
He mentioned that he initially thought she was joking, but he stepped back when he noticed it beginning to move. The man in the store was also quite scared.
The snake was brought to a nearby zoo where experts identified it as a juvenile ladder snake.
![Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation](https://vietnews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/man-finds-snake-in-bag-of-broccoli-aldi-6-64a26bdda2c59__700.jpg)
But herpetologist Dr. Steven J R Allain suspects it might be a viperine water snake
![Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation](https://vietnews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/man-finds-snake-in-bag-of-broccoli-aldi-9.jpg)
The lizard was taken to Dudley Zoo, where the employees think it’s a young ladder snake. But when Bored Panda contacted Dr. Steven J R Allain, he had a different opinion.
Allain mentioned that after looking at the photo of the snake in the broccoli, he doubts the zoo correctly identified the species. He believes it is a viperine water snake, a harmless species that eats fish and can be found in southwestern Europe and northern Africa.
Allain completed his studies in zoology at Anglia Ruskin University. He then pursued a Master’s degree at Imperial College London and is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Kent. His research focuses on the population ecology of barred grass snakes (Natrix helvetica) and the impact of ophidiomycosis. Additionally, he has a keen interest in amphibian diseases and population ecology.
Since a lot of food in the UK comes from the Mediterranean, it’s not shocking to see a snake from that region in some vegetables. I think the snake was probably in the field, got picked up by farming equipment, and then hid in the broccoli.
![Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation](https://vietnews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/man-finds-snake-in-bag-of-broccoli-aldi-5-64a268a86301f__700.jpg)
The journey to the UK and then to Neville’s house took a while, but Allain mentioned that these snakes can go without food for a few months. The cold temperature of the fridge would have slowed down its metabolism, lowering the snake’s energy needs.
He mentioned that he couldn’t picture it being comfortable, especially with the quick change from the warm Mediterranean weather to a cooler one to preserve the freshness of the broccoli.
Viperine water snakes are not harmful to humans because they prefer to play dead instead of biting. They are considered safe for humans as they are not venomous.
Allain mentioned that Neville’s reaction could have been more positive if there was more education and understanding about snakes. He also pointed out that it’s not the snake’s fault for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The snake’s new home at Dudley Zoo might help people overcome their fear of snakes.
![Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation](https://vietnews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/man-finds-snake-in-bag-of-broccoli-aldi-3-64a2685adc83c__700.jpg)
Neville is trying to get compensated for having to go through all of this
![Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation Man Receives Shock Of A Lifetime After Finding Snake Inside Bag Of Broccoli, Demands Compensation](https://vietnews247.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/man-finds-snake-in-bag-of-broccoli-aldi-4-64a26860aaeeb__700.jpg)
Neville was given compensation but is attempting to negotiate for a higher amount.
The man with three children felt that the sum he was told didn’t seem right due to the danger it posed to his disabled son and elderly mother-in-law, who both reside in the same house.
He said it wasn’t satisfactory. The consequences would have been significant if it had been discovered in the house. Also, he has a fear of snakes, which adds to the emotional impact.
An Aldi representative stated: “The supplier we work with has never received a complaint like this before and has strong procedures in place to avoid these problems.”
We are looking into this one-time occurrence and have expressed our apologies to Mr. Linton for not meeting our usual high standards.
After the local news picked up the story, people had all sorts of reactions
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