Black Widow Spider Found in Broccoli from a Northwest Ohio Kroger

A South Toledo Man bought a bunch of fresh broccoli at Kroger in Maumee, only to find a large arachnid alive and acting feisty on the vegetables.

Jacob Vaughn said he discovered the spider while washing off the broccoli before cooking it when “the spider came out and started waving his hands. It was pretty obvious he was alive since he was throwing his hands in every direction. He did not seem pleased.”

Vaughn got tongs and took the piece of broccoli he was on and double bagged it in zip-top bags so it wouldn’t get out.

According to a Kroger spokeswoman, an associate at the store was notified of the concern Monday evening. Upon notification, the associate apologized to the customer and offered to refund or replace the product.

Because Vaughn’s roommates had the fridge full, he decided he needed to cook the broccoli right away. If he hadn’t, the fate of the spider — and the roommates — might have taken another turn. A black widow spider’s bite is reported to be 15 times stronger than a rattlesnake’s. Contrary to popular belief, a bite from a black widow generally results in no serious damage or death, but can cause muscle aches, nausea and a paralysis of the diaphragm, making breathing difficult.

Media in this post courtesy of WTOL. Tune into our local and state newscasts, anytime day or night, for this story and more.