Are your favourite cheese and bacon rolls hiding a shocking secret? One shopper left gagging

There’s nothing quite like the simple pleasure of biting into a fresh, cheesy, bacon-topped roll—especially when you’re catching up with family.

But for one Aussie mum and her son, what should have been a comforting snack turned into a stomach-churning ordeal that’s left them (and now, the internet) reeling.


Maureen, a 64-year-old from Adelaide, was visiting her 22-year-old son Harry and his girlfriend in Darwin when she decided to treat them to a classic favourite: cheese and bacon rolls from Woolworths in Coolalinga.

Little did she know, this innocent purchase would soon become the stuff of food nightmares.


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A packet of cheese and bacon rolls bought from Woolworths was found to contain maggots, and the shopper only realised this after eating two. Credit: @resolvewithajust / TikTok


The horror unfolded as Harry, happily munching away, reached for his third roll. Suddenly, a maggot dropped out—right onto his phone.

'He nearly threw up,' Maureen recounted, still in disbelief.

The pair quickly inspected the rest of the packet, only to find more maggots lurking inside another roll. It’s the kind of discovery that would make anyone’s skin crawl!


Maureen wasted no time returning the offending packet to the store, hoping for swift action. But instead of decisive measures, she was met with confusion.

The supervisors on duty seemed at a loss, and when Maureen suggested they check the other packets on the shelves, she was told they’d have to open and inspect each one—something they refused to do.

'I’m really disappointed that Woolies refused to even look at other packets on the day that we took that back,' she said.

Determined not to let the issue slide, Maureen turned to Ajust, a new AI-powered platform designed to help consumers lodge complaints and get results.

After submitting her complaint, the store manager finally called, apologising and explaining that the rolls had been baked in Sydney, shipped frozen to Darwin, and that the matter would be referred to Woolworths’ regulatory department for investigation.


But, to Maureen’s frustration, no compensation was offered, and she was left in the dark about what would happen next.

When her story was shared on Ajust’s social media, it quickly went viral, prompting Woolworths’ customer service to reach out—albeit asking for information Maureen had already provided.

What Maureen really wants isn’t just a refund; it’s transparency. 'I think it will help me to understand and to feel a bit more confident going forward if I choose to buy any more products from one of their bakeries,' she explained.

Thankfully, Harry didn’t fall ill after his maggot-laden snack, but the experience was understandably traumatic.

And it’s not just about one family’s ordeal—this story raises bigger questions about food safety, quality control, and how supermarkets respond when things go wrong.


While maggots in bread rolls are rare, food contamination can and does happen.

Supermarkets like Woolworths and Coles have strict quality control processes, but the occasional slip-up is inevitable with products often travelling long distances and being handled by many people.

That’s why it’s so important for stores to act quickly and transparently when something goes wrong.

Maureen’s story also highlights a new trend: using technology to hold big businesses accountable. Platforms like Ajust are making it easier for everyday Aussies to get their voices heard, with AI helping to draft complaints and follow up until a resolution is reached.

According to Ajust’s CEO, Tom Kaldor, 80 per cent of users get a response to their complaint—proof that persistence (and a little tech help) pays off.


Credit: TikTok

Key Takeaways
  • A Woolworths shopper in Darwin was horrified to find maggots in a packet of cheese and bacon rolls, only noticing after two rolls had already been eaten.
  • The customer claimed Woolworths staff at the Coolalinga store were unsure how to handle the complaint and refused to inspect or remove other packets from the shelves.
  • Woolworths apologised for the incident, stating food quality and safety is a priority, and said the matter would be investigated by their regulatory department, but no compensation was offered.
  • The family used the Ajust AI complaint platform to escalate the issue after receiving little response, highlighting the role technology now plays in helping consumers get answers from big businesses.
Have you ever found something unexpected in your groceries? How did the store handle it? Did you get a refund, an apology, or just a shrug? Share your experiences in the comments below.

Read more: Woolworths shopper makes $52 mistake with order and reveals how to avoid it
 

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