Aussie mum’s terrifying find in popular supermarket salad: ‘Lethal potential’

A West Australian mother has had a close call, claiming she bit down on a rusted needle inside a coleslaw mix she bought at a Perth supermarket.

Speaking to 7NEWS, Helen Paton said she bought the $2 bag of salad at the Claremont Quarter Coles on Boxing Day.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Needle allegedly discovered in coleslaw.

For more Coles related news and videos check out Coles >>

“My first mouthful I thought it was a stick of chopped coleslaw. I then realised that, in fact, it was a piece of metal and out of my mouth came a very large rusted needle,” she said.

“I didn’t chew it, I didn’t cut myself, so I wasn’t injured, I was just shocked that it was it there.”

The mother-of-two said she immediately alerted the supermarket of the disturbing discovery.

A Coles customer care consultant on Tuesday apologised, saying police will be contacted.

“We are very concerned to hear this and we would like to extend our apologies,” they said.

“Please be informed that this incident will be referred to police for investigation.”

The discovery bears the hallmarks of the strawberry spiking saga in 2018, when more than 100 cases of sewing needles hidden in strawberries were reported, forcing the fruit to be thrown away.

Paton wants Coles to consider a recall, saying it could have had more serious consequences.

“Someone could have impaled their mouth, they could have swallowed it,” she said.

“I think it’s quite a lethal potential.”

When contacted for a response, Coles told 7NEWS it could not comment on the incident now police were investigating.

The Food Safety Information Council told 7NEWS physical hazards in produce were rare given the screening and management practices.

“Metal contamination is likely to be an even rarer occurrence,” a spokesperson said.