A young shopper in Nottingham was left shocked and disgusted after discovering mould inside a sealed protein pudding she bought from Lidl.
Faye Allan, 19, had picked up the Milbona High Protein Chocolate Flavour Pudding earlier this month, expecting a quick, healthy post-gym treat.
“I came back from the gym and wanted something high in protein, and I was told it’s good for you,” Faye said.
She noted that the pudding had a best-before date of August 20, meaning it still had two weeks before it was supposed to expire.
“The packaging wasn’t even tampered with—it was fully sealed and in date,” she added.
Daily Treat Turns Into a Health Scare
The pudding was a daily indulgence for the student, who appreciated both the taste and affordability. But her routine snack quickly turned into a nightmare.
Upon opening the lid, she found a round circle of white mould with a greenish centre staring back at her.
“I was disgusted, I never expected that,” Faye admitted. “I haven’t bought one since because what if there’s mould inside that I can’t see and I accidentally eat it.
It’s a health hazard. I’m not risking my health for protein.”
Lidl Responds to the Complaint
A Lidl spokesperson expressed regret over the incident: “We were very sorry to hear about this matter, as it’s never our intention for a customer to be dissatisfied.
We work closely with our suppliers to ensure the products we sell meet the highest possible standards, and we’re disappointed if those standards were not met on this occasion.”
The spokesperson encouraged customers to contact their customer care team with any concerns so that the matter can be investigated properly.
Shocking Supermarket Cheese Discovery
This isn’t the first time UK shoppers have been left horrified by food quality issues.
Just a month ago, a couple in Somerset discovered maggots in a wedge of Président French Brie bought from a Morrisons Daily garage in Taunton West.
Cato and Sean Cooper paid £3 for the cheese on May 14, only to find maggots wriggling and burrowing into the soft, creamy cheese when preparing lunch. Mrs Cooper, a recruitment consultant, said: “I opened the Brie and thought ‘what the heck? That is disgusting.’
I stuck the Brie in the bin but kept the wrapping.”
Couple Criticises Morrisons’ Response
The Coopers filmed the horrifying discovery, capturing more than 16 parasitic larvae writhing in the yellow mass.
Maggots are the larvae of flies, which hatch from eggs laid in rotting materials.
Mrs Cooper believes the cheese was improperly stored. “It must’ve been left out; it can’t have been in the fridge.
Someone must’ve left it on the shelf. It’s gross. We could’ve easily eaten it,” she said.
The couple were left unimpressed when offered just a £3 voucher to make up for the ordeal.
A Morrisons spokesperson said: “We have been in regular contact with the customer to apologise for the delay while our franchise partner carried out its investigation.
We are now confident this was an isolated incident but have been back in touch with the customer this week to offer them a further gesture of goodwill.”
Shoppers Warned to Stay Vigilant
From protein puddings to gourmet cheese, these incidents highlight the importance of checking even sealed, in-date products before consumption.
Consumers are reminded to report concerns immediately to supermarkets to ensure food safety standards are maintained.