I Almost Ate This Until I Looked Closer — A Reminder to Always Check Your Food

What unsettled me most wasn’t just what I found — it was how easily I could have missed it.

We eat quickly. We multitask. We scroll while we chew. Most of the time, nothing goes wrong. But this moment reminded me that our food, especially fresh produce, comes from nature — and nature doesn’t always align with our expectations of perfection.

What You Should Do If You Find Something Like This
Found these eggs on my green leaf lettuce. Can I fry them? : r/whatsthisbug

If you ever encounter something similar:

Stop eating immediately and discard the food
Do not try to “pick it off” and continue
Report it to the restaurant or store so they can check their supply
Seek medical advice only if you feel unwell afterward, which is rare
Simple Habits That Can Help Prevent This
A few small steps can reduce the risk:

Rinse leafy greens thoroughly, even if they’re labeled “pre-washed”
Separate lettuce leaves instead of washing them as a single bunch
Take a moment to visually check your food before eating