bananas

Imagine handing a six-year-old a banana, only to discover that it has a spider cocoon on it, which then starts to hatch?

That's exactly what Maria Layton, 43, claims happened to her and her daughter Siri after opening a bag of bananas bought from a Tesco store.

According to the Western Daily Press,the bananas were exported from Costa Rica, and Layton believes this particular batch were playing host to a Brazilian Wandering Spider - one of the world's most deadly arachnids.

Layton told the West Country newspaper: 'My husband bought the bananas from Tesco, and they had been in the house a whole day before I ripped the bag open.

'Siri asked for a banana. The first banana had a funny bit on it, so I got another one for her and that was when I found the massive spider cocoon.

'There was spider web on the other bananas too. I was so scared - I don't like spiders at the best of times, but have read about Brazilian Wandering Spiders - and was very frightened about the potential threat to my family.

'The spider cocoon started to unfurl so I put it in a sealed box and put it in the freezer as I read that that is supposed to kill them.'

The mother-of-two - whose location is not disclosed - immediately called Tesco customer services, who told her to take them back to the shop she bought them from, according to the Western Daily Press.

But Layton said: 'Tesco were a bit useless, I was really concerned about the possibility of this dangerous spider and spider eggs in my house and really wanted some helpful advice on how to act. I wasn't sure if other spiders or eggs had escaped when I ripped the bag open.

'I posted the picture on Tesco's Facebook page, and they told me to send the wrapper in so they could get the barcode to refund me. I was shocked, they failed to see the potential threat to me and my family and thought I was only interested in having a pound or so back.

'I called Food Standards, but they said it wasn't anything to do with them, I called Trading Standards, but they were shut. I spent about an hour-and-a-half ringing round trying to get some help - while I had this potential killer spider in the house.'

A spokesperson for the retailer, said: 'Our policy is for the customer to take the product back to the store where it can be investigated. We don't have a service whereby someone can go out to the home.'

Topics