Woman rinses broccoli. Then she sees something start moving: ‘This is exactly why you inspect’

Most people give their produce a quick rinse before cooking with it. But, as one woman discovered, it may be worth giving produce a more thorough inspection before eating it.

Bella (@bellaelwella) posted a video that received more than 224,000 views. In it, she says that bugs made their way onto a head of broccoli she purchased prior to filming. 

After seeing a few creepy crawlers on her produce, she decided to take a close look. Then, she says, she discovered living creatures making a home on the greenery.

‘This Is Exactly Why You Inspect Your Broccoli'

In Bella's video, she explains that she's particular about her food products.

“I'm kind of funny about broccoli because I don't fully trust that just rinsing them is getting everything out of here, but I try my best,” she says. She explains that because of that, she tries to separate out her broccoli “as much” as she can without turning it into “mush.”

In her video, she cuts up broccoli into florets. Then she notices a small bug. She cuts the film, discovers more, and then starts filming again to discuss her findings.

“This is exactly why you inspect your broccoli,” she says. “I don't know what kind of mites they are. I don't know what kind of bug, but all that gray are bugs, and it's on a lot of this, and it's low-key on, like, a lot of this.”

Luckily, Bella's mother had some frozen broccoli to spare. The content creator also says she'd feed the wasted produce to her chickens.

What Sort of Bugs Can End Up in Produce?

There are a number of different bugs that might end up on a head of broccoli before it even hits the grocery store. 

Spider mites and other pests aren't necessarily common, but they do make appearances on various types of produce, including broccoli.

Delish warns that “spider mites puncture plant cells, leading to a telltale mottled or yellowed appearance on [broccoli] leaves. This damage can easily be mistaken for other issues, such as nutrient deficiencies.”

Aphids, which are incredibly small insects, can also end up on broccoli heads. Aphid feeding can also cause broccoli to yellow, per Washington State University. Both aphids and spider mites pose little risk when consumed accidentally. The FDA even allows food products to contain a small amount of spider mites or aphids, indicating the bugs are not a deeper health risk.

@bellaelwella

Subplot News reached out to Bella via TikTok direct message for comment.

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