Black widow spider sneaks into broccoli, surprises man
Digital Reporter
Monday, June 18, 2018, 2:09 PM - Bugs will sometimes pop up in grocery produce. That's a given and most of the time, the intruders are harmless.
But that wasn't the case for Jacob Vaughn, who recently brought home broccoli from a Kroger grocery store in Maumee, Ohio, local Fox News affiliate reports.
According to Vaughn, his veggies came with a side of live, black widow spider.
“It was pretty obvious he was alive since he was throwing his hands in every direction. He did not seem pleased," Vaughn told WTOL.
He trapped the spider in a ziploc bag and brought it back to the store, which offered to refund or replace the product.
“Kroger works with growers to ensure we are always providing safe, quality food to our customers," a company spokesperson told WTOL.
We encourage customers to inspect fresh produce prior to consuming. If customers are not satisfied with their purchase they are welcome to return it for a refund or exchange."
BLACK WIDOW SPIDERS IN CANADA
Black widow spiders are rare in Canada, but they can be found in southern regions along the Canada-U.S. border.
This shiny black spider is best identified by a distinct red hourglass mark on the underside of its stomach.
"It spins a small, silk web close to the ground and is found in secluded places like garages and sheds, or under rocks or fallen trees when outside," The Government of Canada writes on its website.
"It is not aggressive and prefers fleeing when disturbed, so it will only bite to defend itself ... If you are concerned about the potential presence of black widow spiders, be careful when working around spider webs in secluded areas, and wear protective gloves if needed."
While bites from black widow spiders aren't usually fatal, symptoms can persist for several weeks and include severe muscle pain, abdominal cramps and muscle spasms.
Some people who are bitten by the spider experience no symptoms at all.
