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Mystery find in Morrison's fruit juice carton | Mystery find in Morrison's fruit juice carton |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Betty Richards found the object above in a nearly-finished carton of fruit juice | Betty Richards found the object above in a nearly-finished carton of fruit juice |
Julie Birkenshaw enjoys a glass of something sweet so was delighted when her pal Betty Richards picked her up a carton of fruit juice. | Julie Birkenshaw enjoys a glass of something sweet so was delighted when her pal Betty Richards picked her up a carton of fruit juice. |
Julie, 84, spotted a few "bits of black" around the nozzle of the one litre apple and mango drink from Morrisons but, after tasting, thought it was fine and, over the course of a week, had almost finished it. | Julie, 84, spotted a few "bits of black" around the nozzle of the one litre apple and mango drink from Morrisons but, after tasting, thought it was fine and, over the course of a week, had almost finished it. |
When Betty, also 84, visited her friend's home in Doncaster to check in on her, Julie mentioned the discolouration on the now nearly-empty container. | When Betty, also 84, visited her friend's home in Doncaster to check in on her, Julie mentioned the discolouration on the now nearly-empty container. |
"She showed me this black stuff and I said 'Julie, you shouldn't be drinking that' so I poured away the little bit that was left," said Betty. | "She showed me this black stuff and I said 'Julie, you shouldn't be drinking that' so I poured away the little bit that was left," said Betty. |
"Then out it plopped into the sink and I thought, 'oh what's that?'" | "Then out it plopped into the sink and I thought, 'oh what's that?'" |
Former nurse Betty peered at the plughole and saw the object, which she says measures about 12in (30cm), sitting in the sink. | Former nurse Betty peered at the plughole and saw the object, which she says measures about 12in (30cm), sitting in the sink. |
Listen: Julie Birkenshaw and Betty Richards said they had been through a "terrible time" after the discovery | |
After recovering from the initial shock, the resourceful octogenarian scraped the foot-long specimen onto a plate and whipped out a magnifying glass to inspect what had been in fridge all week. | After recovering from the initial shock, the resourceful octogenarian scraped the foot-long specimen onto a plate and whipped out a magnifying glass to inspect what had been in fridge all week. |
"I could see a face, these little eyes and a nose and I thought, 'that's definitely a snake'. | "I could see a face, these little eyes and a nose and I thought, 'that's definitely a snake'. |
Not believing her eyes, she sought a second opinion from Julie's neighbour Steven. | Not believing her eyes, she sought a second opinion from Julie's neighbour Steven. |
"He looked at it too and said 'you're right Betty, it's a snake' and I thought 'oh dear, Julie has drunk all of this except for that little drop at the bottom'," the former nurse explained. | "He looked at it too and said 'you're right Betty, it's a snake' and I thought 'oh dear, Julie has drunk all of this except for that little drop at the bottom'," the former nurse explained. |
The inside of the carton was covered in "black residue", Betty said | The inside of the carton was covered in "black residue", Betty said |
Betty, who has been friends with Julie for 20 years, put the object in a carrier bag and took it back to the supermarket's Armthorpe site - but described the response she received to her drink discovery as "very disappointing". | Betty, who has been friends with Julie for 20 years, put the object in a carrier bag and took it back to the supermarket's Armthorpe site - but described the response she received to her drink discovery as "very disappointing". |
"I was shaking when I went in there but I got no comfort at all. | "I was shaking when I went in there but I got no comfort at all. |
"I told him 'it's not every day you find a snake in your drink' and that I was worried about Julie. | "I told him 'it's not every day you find a snake in your drink' and that I was worried about Julie. |
"But he didn't seem interested at all and I feel very let down by his lack of concern." | "But he didn't seem interested at all and I feel very let down by his lack of concern." |
The BBC showed the image of the find to experts at Leeds's Tropical World centre – but they were unable to confirm whether the object was animal, mould or something else. | The BBC showed the image of the find to experts at Leeds's Tropical World centre – but they were unable to confirm whether the object was animal, mould or something else. |
'Extremely confident' | 'Extremely confident' |
Morrison's said a technical team had reviewed images of the carton contents and were "extremely confident that it is not a snake". | Morrison's said a technical team had reviewed images of the carton contents and were "extremely confident that it is not a snake". |
The spokesperson said the manufacturing process was "fully enclosed and the liquid passes through a filter before being cartoned, which would prevent such a large item from entering the carton." | The spokesperson said the manufacturing process was "fully enclosed and the liquid passes through a filter before being cartoned, which would prevent such a large item from entering the carton." |
"Our team believes that this could potentially be a strip of mould which may have occurred if the packaging was compromised - it only takes a hole the size of a pin (which can't be seen) to allow air in and for mould to grow. | "Our team believes that this could potentially be a strip of mould which may have occurred if the packaging was compromised - it only takes a hole the size of a pin (which can't be seen) to allow air in and for mould to grow. |
"This packaging damage could have happened at any time from production, sale or even in the customer's home." | "This packaging damage could have happened at any time from production, sale or even in the customer's home." |
The supermarket chain also apologised that Betty had not received "the high standard of customer care we strive for" in the store. | The supermarket chain also apologised that Betty had not received "the high standard of customer care we strive for" in the store. |
Betty added: "This has been very traumatising for us both. | Betty added: "This has been very traumatising for us both. |
"We're talking about this snake all the time and it's just been terrible." | "We're talking about this snake all the time and it's just been terrible." |
Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North | Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North |