Live frog from Colombia found in Colruyt bag of bananas

A couple in Ixelles had a surprise when they discovered a live tropical frog from Colombia in a bag of bananas that they had bought from Belgian supermarket Colruyt.

The small amphibian is believed to have made a 9,000km journey wrapped in a plastic bag of Colruyt 'Everyday' own-brand bananas before making its way into the couple's online grocery order.

Denise Battaglino, an Italian living in Brussels, and her French-Brazilian partner Timoté Moinhos headed home on Monday with their Collect&Go order from a pick-up point on Avenue Louise, when later that evening, Timoté heard strange noises coming from the kitchen.

"The frog was still alive," Battaglino said. "Luckily, my boyfriend is a biologist, so he immediately placed it in water and even found some small worms in one of our plants to feed it.

"The bananas were labelled as originating from Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica, so we believe the frog made a very long journey to end up in our kitchen."

The pair took to ChatGPT to ask if this had happened before. They found similar cases in the news, including that of a tree frog from the Dominican Republic that turned up in a bag of Fair Trade bananas from a UK supermarket in 2022.

"We informed Colruyt, who replaced the bananas," she added. "The customer service agent told us they had never heard of something like this happening before."

The couple have contacted several local animal welfare and wildlife associations for advice about what to do with the frog, which they have named Mikina, because they have a Colombian friend called Mike. 

It must not be released into the wild. "Introducing a non-native species into a local ecosystem can have serious consequences," Moinhos explained. "These animals may have no natural predators in their new environment, allowing them to reproduce quickly and outcompete native species for food and habitat. This can lead to the decline, or even extinction, of local wildlife.

"In addition, exotic species can carry diseases or parasites that native animals have no immunity against, potentially spreading illnesses and disrupting ecological balance."

Nature conservation group Natagora has since pointed them in the direction of the Centre de Soins pour la Faune Sauvage, a care centre in Anderlecht that specialises in caring for vulnerable wildlife.

A Colruyt spokeswoman said that, after being alerted to the case by the customer service department, it had begun an investigation.

"The affected customer received new bananas as compensation, which is standard procedure for us. We then requested an internal inspection by our quality department," she told The Bulletin.

"Bananas sold under the 'Everyday' brand are packaged in their country of origin, in this case Colombia. It is therefore very likely that the frog entered the packaging there and made the journey from Colombia to Belgium.

"We are pleased to hear that the frog is doing well and hope that the appropriate authorities will be contacted to ensure the animal is properly cared for."

What to do if you find a frog in your shopping

In the Brussels region, the Centre de Soins pour la Faune Sauvage (Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre), an organisation based in Anderlecht, is the go-to place if you find a wild animal (not a pet) in need of care. It can be reached by calling 02 521 28 50.

If a trapped animal is potentially dangerous, such as a fox or swan, you should call the fire brigade immediately on 112.

Otherwise, the advice is to cut several small holes in a box - for example, a shoebox - and place the animal inside. Do not give it anything to eat or drink. Keep the closed box in a dark, quiet room near a source of heat until it can be transferred to the wildlife care centre.

The centre is accessible by metro (Saint-Guidon) and Taxis Verts offers a special flat-rate fare of €20 for transporting live animals there.

If it is a young bird, be careful. It is normal in spring to find chicks on the ground before they can fly. If it is not injured, try carefully moving the bird to a higher place to protect it from being trampled on or run over by a vehicle.

If you ask the care centre for a reference number and become a member of the association (€30 per year), you can ask to receive updates on the animal's progress once it has been taken into care.

Outside the Brussels region, you can find a list of wildlife care centres elsewhere in the country here.