**Couple Discover Apparent Maggots in French Brie Cheese Bought from Morrisons**
A couple from Somerset have described their revulsion after allegedly discovering live insects inside a popular French cheese product purchased from a major UK supermarket chain. Cato and Sean Cooper, both 54, had intended to enjoy Président French Brie for their lunchtime meal, but instead say they were confronted with an unpleasant surprise when preparing the food.
The unsettling incident occurred after the pair visited the Morrisons Daily in Taunton West on 14th May. Sean Cooper, who had picked up the cheese as a treat for their lunch, was the first to notice something unusual. While unwrapping the Brie, he spotted what appeared to be several live maggots moving inside the soft cheese.
“Sean went to get lunch ready and told me, ‘I don’t think we’ll be eating the Brie today’,” recalled Cato. “I opened it up to see for myself, and it was just horrifying. I immediately threw the cheese in the rubbish bin, but I kept hold of the packaging out of concern.”
Footage captured by the couple appears to show more than a dozen small, wriggling creatures inside the cheese. The video gives a stomach-churning view of their unwanted addition and has understandably caused quite a stir after it was shared with Morrisons.
Cato, who works as a consultant for a recruitment firm, said the experience left her “disgusted” and prompted her to contact the supermarket retailer through its live chat service to report the distressing find. She expressed disappointment at what she described as a lacklustre response, being offered little more than a £3 voucher by way of compensation.
“It wasn’t really about the money for us—it was about food safety,” Cato explained. “All they did was offer us a voucher to the value of the product, but no real assurance it wouldn’t happen again. I felt like I was being palmed off by an automated response rather than someone properly investigating the matter.”
The couple say this has put them off purchasing soft cheeses from Morrisons in the future. “It makes you question how the item had been stored and checked,” said Cato. “It’s possible it may have been left out of refrigeration, or that it’s sat on the shelf outside the required conditions. It’s simply not acceptable for this to happen.”
Morrisons responded to the incident, reassuring the public that they take such cases seriously. A spokesperson said, “We have kept in touch with the customer to apologise for any delay while our franchise partner investigated the issue. This is believed to be an isolated incident, but we have since been back in contact with the couple to offer a further gesture of goodwill.”
Food safety experts recommend returning any perishable goods that appear spoiled or contaminated to their place of purchase, and urge customers to hold onto packaging to assist with any investigation. The retailer has said its franchise partner examined the incident closely, and no other similar complaints have been recorded.
Président, the renowned producer of the affected Brie cheese, has also been contacted for a response regarding the matter. In the meantime, the episode serves as a reminder of the importance of robust food handling and storage – especially for products that are prone to spoilage if not kept chilled.
Customers who encounter issues with food safety are typically advised to escalate their concerns if they feel their complaint has not been addressed satisfactorily. Regulators and consumer watchdog groups can offer further guidance in cases where there is believed to be a risk to public health.
The Coopers, though shocked, say they are keen to ensure their experience stands as a warning to others. “We want people to be vigilant,” said Cato. “When you shop at a big supermarket, you trust that safety checks are in place. Hopefully this was just a one-off, but it’s important that things change to make sure it doesn’t happen to someone else.”
As food safety issues can have a widespread impact, the response to even single incidents is critical in maintaining customer confidence. Morrisons, like all major retailers, is under pressure to provide swift, thorough investigations whenever a complaint such as this is made, and to communicate openly with its customers about the outcomes.