A woman was left stunned after discovering what she described as “free protein” — butterfly larvae — in the salad served with her nasi ayam madu at a Ramadan bazaar in Cheras.
The incident was shared on TikTok by user @Ayuumuchann. She had purchased the dish for breaking fast on February 25 and later lodged a report with the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKJ).
“When I was about to eat, I noticed larvae on the salad leaves. This was extremely disappointing and raises serious concerns about food hygiene and safety,” she said. She added that the trader’s response the next day was unsatisfactory, claiming the seller showed no responsibility, offered no apology, and spoke rudely.
The woman called on the local authority to conduct a thorough inspection of the stall, emphasising that food safety and cleanliness standards at Ramadan bazaars must be strictly maintained.
Her post drew widespread attention online, with several social media users sharing similar unsettling experiences. One netizen, Syafieliot, said they had bitten into what they thought was a boba pearl in a drink, only to discover it was a fly. Another, Mell, claimed to have found a long pinky fingernail in tepung pelita purchased the day before.
TikTok user Paqyop Gonzales offered a practical explanation, noting such incidents often occur when salad leaves and cabbage are not washed properly. “Cabbage in particular tends to harbour larvae when only partially cut. If not thoroughly cleaned before being added to food, those larvae will end up being consumed,” he warned.