A Smarden couple found 'maggots' in their Heinz baked beans

A couple were shocked to find what they believed to be maggots in their baked beans.

Odette Allen, 36, was cooking fried chicken, chips and beans for herself and 43-year-old husband David when she spotted the white worm-shaped bits in the Heinz baked beans, which she had already warmed up in a pan.

"It wasn't until I served them up I saw they didn't look right," said the mother-of-three, of Green Lane, Smarden. "There were these white bits in there. It was full of them.

"I had a closer look, and to my astonishment, I realised that they looked like tiny maggots."

Heinz it has launched an investigation and said it is possible the "maggots" are bean "radicles" or small shoots.

Mrs Allen picked up the multi-pack of beans from Tesco at Park Farm, Ashford, and was concerned that her husband, a welding manager, had already eaten one of the tins.

"They look like maggots to me," she said. "I've even looked at them under a magnifying glass.

"I won't be eating beans for a while."

She contacted Heinz, who posted her a pre-paid envelope and a sample container so she could send them the beans to analyse.

When contacted by KentOnline, Heinz issued a statement saying they believed the "maggots" could be harmless bean "radicles" - the white shoot that emerges from a bean during the germination process.

Spokesman Nigel Dickie said: "We were sorry to hear about Odette Allen's concerns.

"We are keen to investigate this isolated complaint and confirm the cause of the issue as soon the can is returned to us.

"However, from the description we have received, it is likely that some bean 'radicles' may have been present in the can. These are the small shoots which appear first when the bean begins to germinate.

"Normally the beans are harvested and dried before germination takes place but occasionally a few 'radicles' can be present due to variations in the maturing time and these may pass through the manufacturing process. These bean shoots are perfectly harmless."