Tulsa woman finds worms in her chocolate candy

One Tulsa woman isn't expecting chocolate for Valentines Day. It's because she's already had a candy surprise, one she won't soon forget, and she doesn't think you should either.

Friday, February 10th 2006, 11:01 am

By: News On 6

One Tulsa woman isn't expecting chocolate for Valentines Day. It's because she's already had a candy surprise, one she won't soon forget, and she doesn't think you should either.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says Pam Partidge isn't shy about her love for sweets.

"I have a real sweet tooth and I love sweets and especially Pecan Delights." But her taste has changed and her appetite is gone and here's why. "So I took a big bite out of it and looked down and I saw a worm." It wasn't just one of them, it was several, in a Russell Stover "Pecan Delight."

Somehow, along with the crunchy goodness of the pecans, caramel and chocolate, several worms had set up shop. "I didn't bite the worm; I hope I didn't, now that I think about it."

Pam called the Tulsa City-County Health Department, which visited the store where she bought it and pulled Pecan Delights off the shelf. She called Russell Stover, which sent a not-so-comforting letter of apology.

The company said "When the candy is made and packaged, it's kept at sub-zero temperatures, this makes it impossible for insect life to exist, but something did get into the candy you bought.â€

Along with the form letter promising a quality control investigation, Russell Stover sent Pam a pound of Pecan Delight's. And a coupon promising free shipping if she decides to order more. "At this point, I'm not even thinking about eating candy, no candy at all."

Pam says she's done with candy and especially with this candy, but she wants people to know to look before they eat - or they might turn off their sweet tooth or worse their sweet heart, forever.

The Tulsa City-County Health Department says investigations of insect infested food isn't uncommon. The manufacturer believes the insects got into the candy - sometime after it left the factory.