Bug found in the frozen peas leads to Government inquiry
The bright red creature was nestled among the peas, which Mrs Peel had bought from Farmfoods, in Allenton, a week earlier.
The beetle is found in north America and some parts of Europe.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has now pledged to investigate where the bug has come from, as its introduction to the UK is prohibited because of the risk to crops.
Mrs Peel, 31, who has a 22-month-old called Grace, a 10-year-old boy called George and a 13-year-old girl called Jessica, said she was horrified when she found the bug.
She was going to use the peas in a fish pie she was making.
"I couldn't believe my eyes," she said.
"I shouted to my husband to come and have a look. We were just really shocked.
"I am glad I found it before I put it in the pie, otherwise one of my children could have eaten it."
Mrs Peel lives in Osmaston Road, Allenton, with husband Ricky, 41, who has recently been made redundant from his job as a cleaner at Derbyshire Royal Infirmary.
The bag states the peas came from the European Union but does not specify where.
"I would still shop there but would just not buy those peas," said Mrs Peel, who had already used half of the bag when she found the bug while making tea on Tuesday, December 16.
"We'd eaten most of them," said Mrs Peel.
"I got the bag out to make a fish pie and the bug just fell out when I poured them out. It's a good job I saw it, otherwise it would have gone straight in the pie."
Nick Moyes, keeper of natural sciences at Derby Museum and Art Gallery, said the beetles were widespread in north America and central Europe but were only found occasionally in Britain.
"I've only seen them alive once before – many years ago in a Swiss potato field," he said.
"It is important that not only is this drawn to the attention of the supplier of the product, but also that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is notified."
A spokesman for the department said the Colorado Beetle was a notifiable pest, which means it could be a risk to agricultural crops.
"We ask people to notify us about it as it could be a serious risk," he said.
"We will try and track down where the insect has come from."
Karim Vahed, from the University of Derby, said that, if it was alive, it should have been reported to the police because it was such a devastating pest to potato crops,
"Luckily, it is frozen," he added.
"There is a huge drive against the beetle in the UK but it is more widespread on the Continent.
"If it was alive, it would have been very serious.
"It does have red defensive colourings, which in nature would suggest it has nasty toxins in, but I don't think they are poisonous."
Mrs Peel took the peas back to the shop in Osmaston Road, where she filled out a complaints form.
The Evening Telegraph contacted Farmfoods after finding out about the beetle.
A spokesman said the suppliers had been informed and that the specimen was being examined.
"We take all complaints very seriously," added.
"When we get all the details, we will investigate thoroughly."
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