Asda shopper finds metal object which looks like 'crack pipe' left in fridge

An Asda shopper looking for ready meals had a shock when he discovered a metal “crack pipe” in the chilled section instead.

The suspicious looking item was found in the fridges near ready meals in Asda’s Brighton Marina store on Saturday.

The customer later joked online the food would "blow the minds" of visitors.

He shared on Twitter : “If you want ready meals that blow your mind go to Brighton Marina Asda.

“Found this used crack pipe (I think? Not really my specialty) in the fridge with the ready meals earlier today.

"Store management was made aware. Very odd indeed. #craicnotcrack (sic)."

An investigation by the supermarket later discovered the item was a tool used to fix part of the fridge, not an item used in the consumption of drugs.

It was later found to be a small tool used in fridge maintenance, rather than anything to do with drugs (Getty Images)

A spokesman said: “We can confirm that the item was a part of a tool used in the maintenance of the fridge and not in fact any kind of drug paraphernalia.”

Last week it was revealed food and drink prices may rise even further and shops could run low on stock due to shortages of vital carbon dioxide gas.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in soda and carbonated beers, like lagers, and is also used to asphyxiate animals in abattoirs.

It is also pumped into sealed packs to keep oxygen out and keep food fresh.

UK food and drink firms told the BBC they are worried about shortages as a government-backed deal comes to an end today.

It comes as it was revealed shops could run low on stock due to shortages of vital carbon dioxide gas (SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

The Food and Drink Federation said supermarkets could suffer shortages of some foods if the deal is not extended.

But the government has said CO2 manufacturers are now in charge of keeping supplies going.

"We are continuing to work closely with both the hospitality and food and drink industries, and do not expect any significant disruption to essential food supplies," a spokesperson from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy told the BBC .

When the problem started last year, British Meat Processors Association chief executive Nick Allen told The Mirror that up to 90% of chicken and pig slaughterhouses have to stop work without CO2.

The owner of meat giant Bernard Matthews, Ranjit Singh Boparan, said the CO2 crisis was "catastrophic" for the poultry industry and that Christmas could easily have been cancelled over the issue.