As if the world didn't already have enough to worry about right now, in May this year, a TikTok went viral showing strawberries soaked in salt water suddenly releasing a host of tiny bugs. The video has many people suddenly panicking, worrying that their pandemic specialty strawberry pie may contain an unexpected extra ingredient. Experts tell Bustle there's no reason to worry. There usually won't be bugs in your strawberries, and if there are, they're probably completely safe to eat.
Kathleen Demchak, a senior researcher in the Department of Plant Sciences in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences, tells Bustle that if you ask whether all your strawberries contain secret insect friends, the answer is no. "As strawberries develop, there is simply no way for insects to get in without making holes - although admittedly they can be very small - on the surface of the fruit or berry," she said. If you look closely at the berries and they are firm and intact, the chances of having bugs inside are almost zero.
So how did the bugs in the video get into the fruit? "The consensus is that the culprit is spotted wing Drosophila, an invasive fruit fly that has been present in the continental United States for about a decade," said Demchak, who specializes in fruit flies. But surprisingly, just because they're there doesn't mean strawberries are unhygienic. "The berries are still safe to eat," she said.
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There may be more bugs in the fruit you eat than you think, without any ill effects. "When we eat any food, whether it's an animal or a vegetable, we're actually consuming many different types of organisms, bacteria, fungi, and yes, sometimes insects or insect parts," said Michael, a professor of entomology at UK University Dr. Raup said. Maryland, tell Busy. He noted that insect life is on menus in many parts of the world and is widely regarded as a nutritious and healthy protein. Demchak added that some insects are often beneficial to fruit because they deter other predators and problems. Bottom line: These mistakes can't hurt you.
The strawberries in the video probably shouldn't make it into those TikTok users' kitchens, though. Dr. Doug Yanega, a senior museum scientist in the Department of Entomology at the University of California, tells Bustle that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has strict restrictions on how strawberries that may encounter bug life can be sold. According to USDA guidelines, even the lowest grade of strawberries will not suffer any serious damage from insects. "If a strawberry is being sold with gnats inside, then I would assume it is either very rare, well below USDA guidelines, or is being sold by a vendor that bypasses USDA inspection and grading procedures," Yanay said. Add to that. Strawberries from your garden, or those you find at the farmers market, may have slipped through the cracks.
Demchak says if you're worried about all the strawberries, you shouldn't be. USDA regulations aside, spotted-wing fruit flies don't survive the winter very well and also hate really hot conditions, so they don't actually jeopardize strawberry season. "It's always a good idea to wash produce and if you buy berries and you do find a small insect in them, let the person you bought the berries from know so they can take safety measures to correct the problem," she said.
expert:
Kathleen Demchak, senior associate, Penn State University
Dr. Michael Raupp, Professor of Entomology, University of Maryland
Dr. Doug Yanega, Senior Museum Scientist, University of California
