Live frog found in Woolworths lettuce bag in Esperance, WA, goes viral
Consensus Summary
A live frog was discovered inside a sealed bag of lettuce purchased from Woolworths in Esperance, Western Australia, on May 18, 2026. The incident involved a New Zealand couple, Laura Jones and Billie Le Pine, and their flatmate, who found the roughly palm-sized amphibianânicknamed Gregâwhile unpacking groceries. The frog was likely transported from eastern Australia, where most produce for Esperance originates, and survived the journey due to holes in the lettuce bag. The household documented the find in a viral TikTok video, and after the shock wore off, they released Greg near a local dam. Woolworths confirmed the incident was isolated, launched an investigation with suppliers, and apologized to the customer, emphasizing their rigorous quality checks. While the species was identified as a bell frog, experts noted the possibility it could be a threatened species if from the east coast, and advised against releasing such finds without expert consultation.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- A live frog was found inside a sealed bag of lettuce purchased from Woolworths in Esperance, Western Australia, on May 18, 2026.
- The incident occurred in Esperance, about 700 km southeast of Perth.
- The frog was named Greg by the household and was released near a local dam after being found.
- Woolworths confirmed it had apologized to the customer and launched an investigation with suppliers as a priority.
- The frog was described as roughly palm-sized and likely traveled from eastern Australia to Esperance.
- The lettuce bag had holes in it, allowing the frog to breathe and possibly eat during transit.
- Woolworths stated the incident was an isolated event with no other reported cases.
- Laura Jones and Billie Le Pine, a New Zealand couple, were the housemates who discovered the frog in their kitchen.
- The discovery was documented in a viral TikTok video shared by the household.
- Woolworths suppliers use rigorous processes, including washing and quality checks, to prevent foreign materials in lettuce.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The frog was filmed sitting inside the packaging in a TikTok video that attracted millions of views within a day.
- The couple did not lodge a complaint and instead released the amphibian near water close to their home with the lettuce.
- The frog was described as 'chillinâ in the bag, I think he was having a hell of a time really.'
- The frog was found by their flatmate, who said, 'Bro, there's a frog in my lettuce.'
- The incident was discussed on ABC News Breakfast, with Laura Jones and Billie Le Pine appearing on air.
- The frog was presumed to be transported from the eastern states, where most vegetables for Esperance originate.
- The lettuce was bought for $1.15 as a discounted item.
- Laura Jones quipped, 'If I was in a French supermarket, I probably would have got a two for one deal on that one.'
- The frog was played 'Crazy Frog' as a ceremonial send-off before release.
- Frog expert Dr. Jodi Rowley identified the frog as likely a bell frog, possibly a threatened species (green and golden bell frog or southern bell frog) if from the east coast.
- Woolworths provided a replacement item to the customer after apologizing.
- The Guardian noted that stowaway frogs are a known issue, with thousands accidentally shipped across Australia.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- The Guardian states the frog was released with 'Crazy Frog' played for him, while the other sources do not mention this detail.
- The ABC and Guardian mention the frog was found by the flatmate, but only the Guardian explicitly states the couple were New Zealanders based on their accents and All Blacks/Warriors guernseys.
- The Guardian notes the frog was likely a threatened species if from the east coast, while the other sources do not specify the species' conservation status.
Source Articles
Frog found inside Woolies lettuce bag
A routine supermarket shop took an unexpected turn when a household unpacking groceries discovered a surprise sealed inside a bag of lettuce.
'Bro, there's a frog in my lettuce': Woolworths investigates salad bag find
A Kiwi couple in a remote port town on WA's south coast have shared an unlikely discovery, a live frog in a bag of Woolworths lettuce.
Romaine calm: live frog found in discount supermarket lettuce bag
âLook, if I was in a French supermarket, I probably would have got a two for one deal on that one,â woman in WA told national TV Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast When a group of housemates in Western Australia bought a pair of lettuces in a sealed plastic bag â reduced for quick sale to $1.15 â they got two other things for which they could not have bargained. One was a live frog reckoned to be the size of a manâs