A British man, Neville Linton, purchased broccoli from Aldi only to discover an unexpected guest, a snake, when he unwrapped the vegetables at home. Linton, not a fan of snakes, found the situation frightening, especially considering vulnerable individuals in his household. Realizing the creature was too large to be a caterpillar, he sought help from his sister, who identified it as a snake.
The reptile, believed by Aldi staff to be a young ladder snake, was transported to Dudley Zoo. However, herpetologist Dr. Steven J R Allain disputes this identification, suggesting it is a harmless viperine water snake commonly found in southwestern Europe and northern Africa. Allain explained that snakes from the Mediterranean region can end up in imported vegetables, possibly scooped up by agricultural equipment during field movement.
Despite the snake’s unexpected journey, Allain reassured that viperine water snakes pose no threat to humans. Neville, seeking compensation for the distress caused, finds the offered amount inadequate, considering the risk to his disabled son and vulnerable mother-in-law. Aldi is investigating the incident, apologizing to Linton for the lapse in their usual high standards.
In a positive light, Allain hopes the incident fosters greater education and understanding of snakes, emphasizing that the snake’s presence was unintentional, and its new home at Dudley Zoo can contribute to dispelling fears.