INCREDIBLE DISCOVERY
It’s the kind of discovery that makes you regret every bite. A landscaper from Toulouse had a very unpleasant experience on October 15th, when he thought he was taking a well-deserved lunch break. Looking for a quick meal, he bought a can of “American tuna salad” at the Aldi supermarket in Toulouse.
THE TASTE OF FERMENTATION
After a few bites, something strange caught his attention: the taste of fermentation. Curious, he examined his plate closely and made an unappetizing discovery. “My attention was drawn to a suspicious movement at the bottom of the jar,” he told La Dépêche du Midi. What was the result of his discovery? An unfortunate accident that would kill anyone’s appetite. HE BEGAN TO VOMIT
Before his eyes, two small white worms were moving carelessly among the corn kernels, tuna, and tomatoes. “I had to swallow it,” complained the disgusted Toulouse resident, sharing a video on social media. He added, “My first reaction was to vomit. I threw up what I had eaten from the box.” ALDI NOTIFIED
He and his colleague immediately stopped eating and rushed to Aldi to report the incident. “They wanted to give me a refund, but that’s not a problem. Apparently, no one knows if it was only in my box or in others. It’s worrying,” he said.
WORRIED MAN
Immediately after leaving the Aldi store, Julien called the emergency number in a panic. “I was afraid of getting sick; I needed to know what to do. I remembered the recent cases of botulism; it’s causing panic,” he shared. As a reminder, last month, five people were in intensive care in Tours with suspected cases of [INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY]
This artisanal product, sold at several events in 2024, is currently being sought throughout France. Authorities are demanding the destruction of all boxes in circulation, while a judicial and health investigation is underway to determine the source of the contamination, as reported by our colleagues at Le Monde.
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salad
Mixed salads
PRODUCT STILL ON SHELVES
After reassuring Julien, the paramedics simply advised him to watch for any unusual symptoms before going to the emergency room. Fortunately for him, he didn’t develop any symptoms. “I wonder how these worms could have survived in a sealed jar. There might have been an air leak at some point,” he asked. Three days later, a representative from La Dépêche du Midi visited the store and, to everyone’s surprise, the product was still on the shelves.
ISOLATED CASE PER BRAND When questioned, supermarket management confirmed they had notified their quality control teams. “We have been investigating since Tuesday to determine whether this is an isolated incident or a wider problem,” said an Aldi spokesperson. However, the product has not been recalled because, according to the brand, “until we are certain of widespread contamination, it would be premature to remove it from our 1,300 stores.”
CONTAMINATED SHRIMP
Last June, Aldi launched a massive recall of Golden Seafood frozen shrimp sold between March 18 and June 5. The products were contaminated with the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, better known as the “flesh-eating stink bug.” The retailer asked customers to immediately destroy the shrimp or return them to the store, according to a statement published on the Rappel Conso website.
VIBRIO VULNIFICUS BACTERIA
This dangerous bacterium, capable of infecting wounds upon contact with the products, can also cause serious gastrointestinal problems in healthy individuals and, in the most severe cases, septicemia in those most exposed. The 400-gram trays affected by the recall were sold in several regions, including Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Île-de-France, Normandy, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine.
A resident of Toulouse discovered live worms in a salad purchased at Aldi, raising concerns about food safety.
