Mum of five gags in disgust after finding Sainsbury's rice crawling with insects

13 January 2024 , 10:55

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Nichola Jarvis was cooking a bacon and pea risotto when she looked down and spotted insects crawling (Image: Jam Press)

A mum-of-five was left aghast after finding live bugs in her Sainsbury's rice.

Nichola Jarvis was cooking a bacon and pea risotto when she looked down and spotted insects crawling. There were at least seven small creepy crawlies which could be spotted in her half-cooked dish in the pan.

The 49-year-old reported that the sight made her feel ill, and she threw the meal into the bin. When checking the box, it was within date with a "best before" if 26 July next year.

Nichola was starving and had to order a kebab before issuing a complaint to the supermarket. However, she was only given a £5 voucher as a form of apology.

She fumed: “When I looked at the dish I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was crawling with insects and made me feel sick. It just reminded me of a Bushtucker Trial on I’m A Celebrity and I started to gag. I had to throw everything in the bin.”

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Nichola, from Margate in Kent, is an ex-childminder and purchased the £2.40 Arborio Risotto Rice from Sainsbury's closeby to Ramsgate. After losing her complaint, Nichola added: “All they said was sorry they had ruined my evening and offered me a £5 voucher as compensation.

A grab from a video captured by Nichola Jarvis showing the bugs in the The Italian arborio risotto rice (Jam Press Vid)

The Italian arborio risotto rice purchased by Nichola Jarvis showing it was still in date. (Jam Press)

“I didn’t want a voucher, I wanted an explanation of how live insects got into a sealed container in a supermarket. People pay a lot of money for food nowadays and wherever you buy it from you expect it to be edible and not crawling with bugs.”

A Sainsbury’s spokesperson said: “We are in contact with Nichola to apologise for this rare experience. We have processes in place to prevent this from happening and we are investigating this case with our supplier.”

Nichola has reported the incident to Thanet District Council Environmental Health. A council spokesperson said: “TDC’s Environmental Health team has received a complaint from a member of the public relating to contaminated rice.

“Complaints are assessed according to key criteria, including risk to public health and the number of people potentially at risk. Council officers will investigate the complaint, and if necessary, will visit the premises where the product was bought.”

Andy Crick