My friend and I were enjoying a quiet dinner at a trendy downtown restaurant when something horrifying happened. The atmosphere was perfect—soft music, warm lighting, and beautifully plated dishes.She ordered a salad with avocado and quinoa. At first glance, it looked fine. Then she froze. “These aren’t seeds,” she said. “They’re moving.”
What we thought were chia seeds turned out to be insect eggs—tiny, transparent spheres with black dots inside, slightly wriggling. Panic set in immediately.
We called the waiter, but fear had already taken over. Unsure if we’d ingested anything harmful, we rushed to the hospital. My friend was shaking, nauseous, and terrified.
Doctors ran tests, prescribed medication, and told us to monitor symptoms. Physically, we were okay. Mentally, it was another story.
The restaurant later blamed “a technical error” and “a supplier issue,” but that didn’t ease our trauma. Since that night, I can’t even look at chia seeds without panicking.That experience ruined more than our dinner—it shattered our sense of safety in places we once trusted.