84-year-olds report 'dead snake' in Morrisons juice; company says it is mould

Two elderly women in Doncaster say a dark, snake-like object emerged from a Morrisons apple-and-mango juice carton, prompting distress and investigations into safety and quality controls. Betty Richards, 84, bought a £1.35 1-liter carton from the Armthorpe branch for her friend Julie Bircumshaw, also 84. Bircumshaw noticed bits of black around the nozzle, but after tasting the juice she considered it acceptable to drink. When Richards visited a week later, she was told about the discolouration near the nozzle and decided to inspect the nearly empty carton herself. Richards recounts that the moment she opened the carton, a “dead snake” appeared and landed in the sink, a sight that left her shaken and incredulous. "She showed me this black stuff and I said 'Julie, you shouldn't be drinking that' so I poured away the little bit that was left. Then out it plopped into the sink and I thought, 'oh what's that?'" Richards said. The object was later described by her as a long, string-like mass that prompted a chilling reaction once she observed it up close.

Richards says she was joined by Bircumshaw’s neighbour, Steven, who also saw something that resembled a face on the mass. "I could see a face, these little eyes and a nose and I thought, 'that's definitely a snake'" Steven recounted. Richards was so unsettled that she placed the object into a carrier bag and went to speak with Morrisons staff. She says staff did not share her concern and provided little reassurance, leaving her feeling disappointed and distressed. "It’s not every day you find a snake in your drink," Richards told staff, but she felt dismissed and said she was left worried for Bircumshaw, who had already consumed some of the juice before the discovery.

The women’s account drew attention as the BBC reported that experts at Leeds’s Tropical World centre were shown an image of the so-called snake. The facility could not confirm whether the object was an animal, mould, or something else. A Morrisons spokesperson said the retailer’s own team had reviewed the images and was "extremely confident" the mass was mould, not the remains of a legless reptile. The company noted that the manufacturing process is fully enclosed and the liquid passes through a filter before being cartoned, which, they argued, would prevent a large item from entering a carton. The spokesperson added that the object could have formed if packaging was compromised, suggesting the possibility of a hole the size of a pin allowing air in and mould growth. They also stated that packaging damage could occur at any point—from production to sale, or even in the customer’s home—and apologized that Richards had not received the high standard of customer care the retailer strives to provide.

The case highlights questions about product safety in the retail chain and how complaints are handled when consumers face potentially alarming anomalies. Richards described the experience as traumatic and said both women continue to discuss the incident, which has left them distressed. The BBC and local reporting indicate ongoing uncertainty about the true nature of the object, and the parties have not released any further definitive testing results publicly. The episode has spurred discussions about quality-assurance processes in packaging and the speed at which companies respond to consumer concerns, particularly involving products intended for immediate consumption.

Experts emphasize that while mould growth can occur in damaged packaging, attributing an unusual, rod-like mass to mould requires careful laboratory analysis. In the meantime, Morrisons has reiterated its position that the object was mould and reiterated its commitment to customer care. The retailer stressed that any packaging damage could have occurred at any stage of the product’s journey—from production line to shelf or even at the consumer’s home—and urged customers to report any concerns promptly so they can be investigated. While no health authorities have publicly weighed in, the incident underscores the importance of transparent communication and rigorous quality controls in food and beverage packaging to maintain consumer confidence.