A man was left shocked after discovering insects inside a packet of Tesco Finest pasta purchased from the supermarket.
Mark Cranton, from Newport, made the unsettling discovery in his pasta from the supermarket's premium range, describing the incident as a "disgusting episode".
The find has raised concerns about food quality, though the origin of the insects remains unclear.
The insects found in the pasta appear to be either weevils, psocids or mites, though the exact species has not been confirmed.
The insects were found inside the pasta (file pic)
PA
Experts note that these types of bugs are commonly found in kitchen environments, particularly in dark cupboards and storage spaces.
The source of the insects cannot be definitively determined without further investigation, and it remains unclear whether they originated from the production process or entered the package later.
Tesco has confirmed they have received no other reports of issues in their supply chain. Cranton expressed disappointment with Tesco's response to the incident, which included a £1.40 refund.
"We had an apology and a refund of £1.40. We replied with 'Wow £1.40 for all the inconvenience and disgusting episode from a Finest product'," he said.
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GettyWhile the supermarket did provide him with a voucher, Cranton remained unsatisfied with the compensation. "It is not really much of a refund and says a lot for their finest product range," he added.
A Tesco spokesman apologised for the incident, saying: "We're sorry to hear about this."
"We work closely with our suppliers to ensure there are robust quality procedures in place and we would ask the customer to bring the packet back into store so our colleagues can provide a refund and we can fully investigate," the spokesman added.
The supermarket also advised customers to check storage instructions carefully to ensure products are properly preserved at home.
Ashleigh Tosh from MuscleFood.com offered insight into the common occurrence of such insects in kitchens.
"The thought of your kitchen covered in critters is enough to make your skin crawl," Tosh explained.
"These bugs are tiny - just millimetres long, some so tiny you can't even see them so spotting them isn't as easy as it may sound."
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