Woman claims she found CAT POO in Tesco snack box – and believes it could have been put there deliberately by a supermarket worker
Lucy Barfoot has blamed a disgruntled employee of hiding it inside her protein pot
A DISGUSTED shopper claims she found CAT POO stashed in a Tesco snack - and believes it could be a "dirty protest" staged by a supermarket worker.
Lucy Barfoot discovered the suspicious brown object tucked under a spinach leaf in her protein pot on Friday.
The 29-year-old, from Bristol, has since accused a disgruntled supermarket employee of deliberately adding the faeces to the spinach and egg snack.
But a Tesco spokesman has today confirmed an investigation is underway into how the 'extra ingredient' appeared in Lucy's lunch.
"I have no idea how this could have happened," said Homeware designer Lucy.
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"You would think machines in the Tesco factory would have detected it because it has such a different texture to spinach.
"That makes me think it could be a bit of a dirty protest by a staff member. Or maybe they were tired of cleaning spinach and wanted a way to make the total weight up.
"Think how much spinach I was missing for the contents of the pot to weigh the same as it should but with a lump of whatever it is in there? I've been ripped off."
The £1.50 protein pot, which contained two halves of a hard-boiled egg and spinach, was bought from Lucy's local Tesco Express on Malborough Street in Bristol city centre on Thursday.
She claims she ate a piece of egg and spinach from the pot on Thursday night and mentioned a "gritty" texture to her flatmate – but claims she didn't see the brown "foreign body" until she went to eat the rest for lunch the following day.
Lucy said: "I bought the protein pot last night after getting the coach back to Bristol and I ate a bit of the egg and spinach as a late night snack.
I was a bit disturbed and really disappointed because I was so hungry.
Lucy Barfoot
"There was this weird gritty texture and I even mentioned it to my flatmate but I just put it down to the spinach because that happens sometimes.
"I took the rest into work with me today as a snack and when I went to eat the second egg I realised it was covered in brown stuff – and when it rolled over I saw the poo.
"At first I was just confused and it took me a few minutes of staring at it and trying to sniff it. It looks just like a bit of cat poo.
"It might be soil but it is very unfortunately shaped. I was a bit disturbed and really disappointed because I was so hungry. All I wanted was a nice, healthy snack.
"It might be adding protein to the protein pot but it's not exactly appetising. The thought of it actually being a turd completely put me off my lunch."
In the past Lucy has often popped into Tesco to pick up a snack or a sandwich but she said there is nothing the supermarket could now do to encourage her to shop there again.
She said she showed the brown object to colleagues at work - who were also disgusted - and said they will now be too paranoid to eat food purchased from Tesco again either.
Lucy said: "I showed it to my friends at work and they did the same as I did and stared at it in disbelief for a couple of minutes before handing it back and saying it was disgusting.
"I think everyone is going to be a bit too paranoid to shop at Tesco from now on. And I definitely won't be going back.
"They've asked me to send them it for inspection but what am I going to do – post a poo in a matchbox?
"And all they'll do is offer me a gift voucher which really isn't good enough. I could have eaten it.
"I can't even imagine. I'm worried enough that I ate the egg last night and it felt gritty.
"I have been put off the protein pot forever and I definitely do not think I will be going back to Tesco."
A Tesco spokesperson said: “We set ourselves the highest standards for the safety and quality of our food.
"We have asked the customer to return the item to the store so we can investigate how this may have happened.”
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