Colonie

Martha Pallotta says she found an unexpected surprise inside a package of grapes she bought at Price Chopper's Market Bistro in Latham: a black widow spider.

While the supermarket chain said spiders sometimes do show up in produce, representatives found no evidence of one in the grapes Pallotta brought back to the store.

The Colonie resident said she bought the grapes July 17. Even though they were organic and free of pesticides, she still washed them before she, her husband and her son ate some of them.

"The next morning, my son, who was home from college, took them from the fridge, put them on the table, opened them and said 'Whoa!'"

He thought by its distinctive black-and-red coloring that the spider he'd found was a black widow. He did a quick web search to confirm it.

Pallotta scooped up the paper towel containing the grapes and spider, and then placed that inside four different plastic bags. She brought them back to the store.

"Spiders are abundant in the California desert, do gravitate toward the grapes grown there, and occasionally get shipped all the way here," said Price Chopper Mona Golub in an emailed statement. "We've inspected Ms. Pallotta's grapes and found no discernible evidence of a spider."

Pallotta shared photos of a spider in her grapes and a letter she received from Chris Marra, a senior claims adjuster from Price Chopper saying her complaint — without confirming or denying a spider was found — was referred to Delano Farms, supplier of the grapes. The farm did not return a call Tuesday for comment.

Delano Farms contacted her and offered to give her a gift card of $50 to $100, she said. She argued that was insufficient and asked for $1,000, to no avail. She contacted her attorney, who said you could not sue if you were uninjured.

Richard Kaae, a California-based entomologist, said black widows are often found in grapes because they like shade, humidity and bugs to eat. Grapes fit all three criteria because they have shady spots, attract small insects and are watered often.

Only 5 percent of black widow bites are fatal to humans, usually babies or the elderly.

"They are very treatable," he said.

Mild symptoms are treated with Demerol to relieve pain, he said. If symptoms are stronger, such as chest pain, an anti-venom can be administered; however, that's done sparingly.

The spiders are often found in grapes, especially ones not treated with pesticides.

In June, a family in Leamington Spa, England, found a pregnant black widow in grapes imported from Mexico.

In May, a similar spider was found in grapes from a Target in Illinois. A week earlier, a Vermont woman was hospitalized overnight after being bitten by a black widow in grapes she bought at a Shaw's supermarket.

In 2006, Price Chopper took a brand of California black seedless grapes from the produce department of a supermarket in Newington, Conn. after a black widow was found.

Kaae said he is not surprised the supplier didn't offer much more than a gift card to Pallotta.

"She doesn't get bit, so no big deal," Kaae said. "It's a spider. That's agriculture."

tobrien@timesunion.com • 518-454-5092 • @timobrientu