“We Thought They Were Chia Seeds—Until They Started Moving”

My friend and I were enjoying a girls’ night out at a new trendy restaurant downtown. The ambiance was perfect—dim lighting, cozy music, stylish plating. We both ordered the signature kale and beetroot salad, which came highly recommended by the waiter.

Halfway through her plate, my friend suddenly paused, leaned in, and whispered, “Are those… moving?” I leaned closer and saw what she meant—tiny black specks scattered across the leaves. At first, we laughed it off, assuming they were just chia seeds. But the laughing stopped fast.

Because the specks started wriggling.

I felt my stomach turn. My friend dropped her fork. They were bugs—small, live ones—crawling on her food. We immediately called the waiter over, who looked just as horrified as we were. He rushed the plate to the kitchen while apologizing profusely.

Moments later, the manager came over with a grave expression. “I’m so sorry,” he said, “We just received that batch of greens this morning. I’ll have to contact our supplier immediately.”

While they offered to comp the meal and even a gift card, we didn’t wait. We were too panicked to take chances. My friend had already eaten a few bites, so we went straight to the hospital just to be safe. Fortunately, she was fine—no infection, no allergic reaction—but it left us both shaken.

What’s the lesson here? Always check your food—especially fresh produce. Even in high-end places, mistakes happen. If something looks off, trust your gut.

I’m sharing this not to scare you but to raise awareness. Be alert. Be safe.