A stink bug gives off an offensive odour - if found alive not dead like this one in an M&S meal
A musician chowing on a M&S roast ready meal was shocked to discover "something strange" in his mouth was a smelly STINK BUG.
The 45-year-old professional guitarist had already swallowed several mouthfuls of his meal when he spat this one out - and saw the dead insect lying on this plate.
Also known as a shield bug, stink bugs get their name from the unpleasant odour they produce when they feel threatened.
They are normally native to China, Japan and Taiwan - but were accidentally introduced to north America in the late 90s.
Stink bugs produce a pungent liquid from glands in their hind legs - with many gardeners saying the smell can 'taint' the taste of their homegrown fruits and vegetables.
The meal's normal ingredients are listed as roast chicken in a rich tomato sauce, rosemary roasted potatoes, roasted mushrooms and kale.
Mr Furniss said he "expected better" from Marks and Spencer after his flatmate bought three meals for £10 from an M&S store in Cheshunt last week.
He explained: "I had taken a few bites and then felt something a bit strange in my mouth.
"I spat it out and saw this bug staring back at me.
"It was dead as it had been in the oven for 30 minutes, but it certainly tasted a bit odd."
He said that when he showed the bug to his flatmate - a keen gardener - he found out that the intruder was a stink bug.
Mr Furniss, originally from Edinburgh, Scotland, added: "My flatmate told me it was stink bug and I started gagging as I wondered how many more of them were in there and if I had swallowed some."
A spokesman for M&S said it was investigating how the bug got into the meal and said it had given a full refund.
The spokesman said: "We're sorry to hear about the customer's complaint.
"M&S takes food safety very seriously and we work hard to ensure our food is produced to our high quality standards.
"We are investigating and have already provided a full refund."
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