'I couldn't believe it': Mum finds shocking discovery during toddler's snack time

It's no secret that eating is one of the many bonding activities we can engage in with family.

However, it can also be anyone's worst fear, especially when you find something harmful to put in your mouth.

For one mum, this fear became a stomach-churning reality when she found her toddler chewing on something unexpected—leading to a whirlwind of concern, a government intervention, and a surprising revelation about the gruesome discovery.


Newborn mum Shannon Bellman experienced a moment of sheer terror last March 22 when she noticed her 10-month-old boy with an unusual object in his mouth.

After purchasing garlic bread from a local supermarket, she gave the snack to her son, only to find him gnawing on what appeared to be a rat's foot.

'I saw this poking out of his mouth and grabbed it; I couldn't believe it,' she shared.


compressed-rat foot.jpeg
Shannon Bellman expressed her disgust on social media after seeing a rat’s foot on her toddler’s snack. Image Credit: Facebook/Shannon Bellman


Initially, Bellman suspected the rat's foot may have come from the store-bought garlic bread, prompting the grocery chain to issue a nationwide recall.

The discovery led to an investigation to trace the origin of the rodent.


Investigators determined that the rat's foot was 'most likely' a result of an unwelcome visitor in Ms Bellman's own home.

The evidence pointed to the garlic bread being 'twice cooked'. At the same time, the rat's foot was found 'raw'—making it impossible for the foot to be baked into the bread during preparation.

Despite the unsettling nature of the complaint, investigators acknowledged that the report was made in good faith.

The manufacturer also noted that stringent safety procedures were in place.

The incident gained traction online after Bellman posted images of the rat's foot on social media, leading to a supermarket chain response.

Ms Bellman received a call from the company, which had not initially taken the incident as seriously as she believed it warranted.


In a similar incident, parents found rodent droppings in their Mamee Rice Snack Sticks purchased from Woolworths.

The supermarket giant compensated the couple with a $30 gift card and emphasised their commitment to food safety.

These incidents serve as reminders for grandparents who indulge in snacktimes with their grandchildren.

It highlights the importance of vigilance regarding food safety and the unexpected places pests can infiltrate.

Keep an eye on what our little ones are getting into, and maintain a clean and secure environment to prevent such unnerving occurrences.
Key Takeaways

  • A mother discovered her toddler chewing on a rat's foot, initially suspecting it was in a store-bought garlic bread from Pak'nSave supermarket.
  • The New Zealand Food Safety determined the rat's foot 'most likely' originated from the mother's home, not the commercial supply chain.
  • Following the incident, the grocery chain recalled the brand of garlic bread as a precaution while the investigation was ongoing.
  • Despite the initial scare, the incident has highlighted New Zealand's ambitious goal to exterminate all rats and other nuisance animals by 2050 to protect native bird species.
Have you ever had a similar experience or a close call with food safety in your home? Please share your stories with us in the comments below.
 
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I cannot believe a mother would give garlic bread to a baby and surely she would check and see the foot - sensationalism I reckon - hoping to get a handout.
Show me the money she squeals🙀
 
How big was the piece of garlic bread that this mother gave her child? A lot of garlic bread comes sliced, so she should have seen it before giving a piece to her child. Or did she give a whole long loaf to the child which wasn’t a cut/semi-cut loaf. This article, or rather the mother, is b***s******g the retailer. She just thought she’d get more than a gift card as compensation and the retailer should have contested this rubbish. That’s my opinion.
 
Devil's advocate, maybe a disgruntled ex-employee. Looking to cause reputation damage?
Generally, industry tests will find out when or when the item became in contact with the product. What many people seem to forget that the laws also allow for prosecution from fraudulent claims. Just remember, is your claim genuine or just looking for compensation sensualisation or attention seeking.
 
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