Aldi sorry as UK customer finds 'maggot' in raspberry

Courtney Leonard purchased the £3.49 packet of the supermarket chain's Specially Selected frozen fruit after her 13-year-old niece asked to try them.

The chocolate-covered raspberries have recently become a viral craze across video sharing platforms TikTok and Instagram, where creators showcase taste tests and dessert ideas.

However, upon taking the very first bite into one piece of fruit, the teenager noticed an unexpected creature embedded in the core.

A dead, frozen maggot was uncovered wedged directly inside the cavity of the berry.

The pair were disgusted by the discovery and stopped eating the frozen snack straight away.

Miss Leonard, who works as a nursery worker and is a mum-of-one, carefully dissected the raspberry on a plate to examine what was inside.

She then took photographs of the bug as evidence before discarding the remaining contents.

The mother said the unsettling discovery completely ruined her appetite and left the family thoroughly disgusted.

A photograph shows the dissected raspberry lying on a plate with the dead, frozen bug next to it.

The incident unfolded after Miss Leonard bought the packet from an Aldi supermarket in Streatham Hill, south London, near her home in Crystal Palace, on September 12.

Her niece had been desperate to sample the popular treat at home following the shopping trip.

Miss Leonard stated that the stomach-churning incident left her frightened and has completely put her off purchasing frozen fruit or fresh produce from Aldi in the future.

Shortly after finding the maggot, Miss Leonard logged an official complaint through the supermarket's online customer service channels.

Customer service representatives told her she would need to bring the original packaging back to the store if she wished to claim a full refund.

Miss Leonard confirmed she has not yet visited the Streatham Hill branch to return the packet and collect her £3.49.

After she shared images of the frozen find online, other shoppers quickly weighed in on social media with disbelief and humour.

One person quipped: "Well they are 'specially selected'."

Another user mocked the incident, posting: "It's just a lil' protein snack."

A third shocked shopper commented: "Stop it! I have these in the freezer."

On its website, the German discount retailer promotes the premium Specially Selected range as "adding a touch of luxury" while offering goods at "low Aldi prices".

Aldi responded to the incident by defending its agricultural standards and issuing an apology to the customer.

A spokesperson for the supermarket said: "Whilst very rare, this can occasionally occur with products that are grown in natural conditions.

"We have apologised to Courtney and have encouraged her to return the packaging to the store for a full refund."