Toad found in bagged salad bought from grocery store

UPI ^ | September 25, 2024 | Ben Hooper

[Red Badger]

Berkshire Reptile Rescue in England is caring for a toad found in a bag of salad from grocery store Waitrose. Photo courtesy of Berkshire Reptile Rescue/Facebook

Sept. 25 (UPI) -- A reptile rescue group in England is caring for a toad found in a bag of salad that was returned to a supermarket.

Berkshire Reptile Rescue said on social media that the toad was discovered in a bag of salad by a customer and returned to Waitrose in Bracknell.

Rescuer Graham Martin collected the reptile and is keeping it isolated for the time, as it is not yet clear whether it came from overseas.

"He is in a nice little box, he's got some soil and some leaves to hide in, he's got a little water bowl. I've chucked in some beetles for his dinner and he's loving life," Martin told the BBC. "I have no idea where he came from but he's happy where he is."

John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose's parent company, apologized to the customer in a statement.

"While our growers minimize pesticide use to promote sustainable farming and reduce harm to wildlife, there is a stringent sorting and washing process which should have removed this toad," the statement said. "Although this is a very rare occurrence, we are really sorry to the customer who found it."

[UnwashedPeasant]

It is not that unusual. Image search for “frog in bagged salad” to find lots more.

[DannyTN]

Yeah but there were no flies in that bag were there?

[blueplum]

They’re eating the pets
of the people that live there!

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Was it’s name “The Wet Sprocket?”

[Vaquero]

Dew picked in Iraq….lightly killed

[gundog]

Third sentence:

Rescuer Graham Martin collected the reptile and is keeping it isolated for the time, as it is not yet clear whether it came from overseas.

[OldHarbor]

Blimey ! 🦎

Amphibian!

[gundog]

I’m going with Bufo bufo, about as “toad” as it gets.

[dfwgator]

“We use no artificial preservatives or additives of any kind!”

[GaltAdonis]

I remember over a decade ago - a toad in a salad bag in a store in France.
The salad bag had come from northern Africa.

[Fireone]

Can’t be, the frog is too good looking.

[Sgt_Schultze]

Usually that costs extra

[Fireone]

Is that a toad in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

[Alas Babylon!]

Hello my honey, hello my baby, hello my ragtime gal....

[gundog]

Blimey !

I think finding a toad in a salad bag is more of a “Crikey!” moment.

[Vaquero]

Still dead….just ask Bill Maher

[fidelis]

I missed that. Thanks.

[MikelTackNailer]

We've got a riff on Super Mario:
SML Shorts:Toad Away

Or go way way back to the Firesign Theatre:
"Toad Away"

but in the end we all come under the thrall of Futurama's HypnoToad:

"All glory to HypnoToad!"

[dfwgator]

Are you one of those frogs that'll turn into a prince if I kiss you?
Why don't you kiss me and see for yourself?

Nothing's happening.
What do you mean?
You're not turning into a prince.
I'm not a prince.
But you told me you were.
I did not.
Yes, you did.
I did not. You said I was, and I just didn't bother to correct you.
So, what are you?
I'm just a frog looking to get some wood, man, and mission accomplished. Thank you very much.

[Bikkuri]

😂