Live Frog Found Inside Sealed Bag of Lettuce at Woolworths

A live frog, later named "Greg" by the housemates who discovered it, was found inside a sealed plastic bag of lettuce purchased from a Woolworths store in Esperance, Western Australia.

Discovery

The frog was discovered when a housemate opened a bag of lettuce bought from the local Woolworths store. The bag was still sealed at the time of opening. The frog was estimated to be the size of a human palm. The housemates promptly named it "Greg."

The residents involved in the incident are Laura Jones and Billie Le Pine. Mr. Le Pine noted that the frog likely originated from eastern Australia, as most vegetables sold in Esperance are sourced from that region.

Response

A Woolworths spokesperson stated that the company is investigating the incident with its suppliers as a priority, describing the occurrence as an isolated event. The company noted that its standard processes include washing and quality checks for foreign materials before packaging. Woolworths apologized to the customer and provided a replacement item.

Expert Comment

Dr. Jodi Rowley from the Australian Museum Research Institute identified the frog as likely a bell frog species. Dr. Rowley stated that frogs occasionally "hitchhike" across states on produce. She added that the presence of a frog can actually indicate the lettuce was grown in a healthy environment.

"If the frog is from Western Australia, it could be a motorbike frog; if from the east coast, it could be a threatened green and golden bell frog or a southern bell frog."
— Dr. Jodi Rowley, Australian Museum Research Institute

Dr. Rowley advised that anyone finding a frog in produce should contact an expert for identification and guidance on proper handling. She cautioned that releasing the frog into the local environment could spread disease or may be unsuitable for the frog's survival.

Background

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development advises reporting any animals found in packaging, particularly those from interstate or overseas. This is not the first such incident involving Woolworths — in 2016, a spider was reported found in a pre-packaged salad mix from the same retailer.