For many of us, a dash of lime juice is a kitchen staple—perfect for sprucing up a salad, adding zing to a drink, or, as one Coles shopper does, drizzling over frozen grapes for a healthy evening treat.
But for Naomi, a seemingly innocent bottle of Coles-branded lime juice turned her nightly ritual into a stomach-churning ordeal she won’t soon forget.
Curiosity got the better of her, so she cut open the bottle. What she found inside was enough to make anyone’s skin crawl—a fleshy, jelly-like mass that looked more at home in a science lab than a kitchen.
Naomi described the experience as ‘disgusting’ and admitted it made her and her partner feel ‘violently ill’, especially since they had no idea what the mysterious lump could be.
Naomi’s video quickly made the rounds online, with viewers equally horrified and baffled. Comments ranged from the incredulous (‘What on Earth?’) to the darkly humorous (‘Mouse placenta, obviously’).
But perhaps most concerning was that Naomi wasn’t alone—another shopper reported finding the exact same thing in her own bottle of Coles lime juice just days earlier.
Several eagle-eyed viewers suggested the culprit could be a ‘SCOBY’—a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast.
SCOBY’s are best known for their role in fermenting kombucha, where they transform sweet tea into a tangy, fizzy drink. They’re rubbery, jelly-like, and, while not exactly appetising, are generally harmless. While it’s not dangerous for most people, it’s certainly not what you expect to find in your kitchen staples.
Naomi reached out to Coles, who are now investigating the incident. A spokesperson for the supermarket giant reassured customers that they take product quality seriously and encouraged anyone with concerns to return products for a refund or replacement.
Interestingly, Coles is in the process of transitioning their lime juice bottles from opaque to transparent packaging—a move that will make the bottles kerbside recyclable. Their lemon juice bottles have already made the switch, and lime juice bottles are set to follow soon.
‘At Coles, we take pride in providing our customers with great quality and value every day,’ the spokesperson said. ‘If a product doesn’t meet our customers’ expectations, we encourage them to bring it back into store so we can provide a refund or replacement.’
While incidents like this are rare, they’re a good reminder to check your food and drink before consuming, especially if you notice anything unusual about the packaging, smell, or appearance.
Have you ever found something unexpected in your supermarket product? How do you usually handle quality concerns with everyday groceries? Do packaging changes influence your purchasing decisions? Share your thoughts and tips in the comments below.
Also read: Coles shoppers score free roast chickens—but there’s a catch
