Not necessarily—but what you saw is a real thing that can happen with berries.
Those “white wiggling things” are most likely fruit fly larvae (maggots), usually from tiny flies laying eggs on ripe fruit before you bought it.
🫐 What it means
When you soak berries in salt water:
- Eggs or larvae inside the fruit can come out
- Salt water makes them easier to see
- It looks gross, but it’s usually not dangerous in itself
🧠 Should you throw them away?
🚮 Yes, throw them away if:
- There are multiple larvae coming out
- The berries feel mushy, leaking, or smell bad
- You feel uncomfortable eating them (completely valid)
👍 You might keep them if:
- Only a very small number appeared
- Berries are still firm and fresh
- You soak longer (10–15 min), rinse thoroughly, and inspect carefully
But honestly, most people would still discard them for peace of mind.
⚠️ Is it dangerous?
- Usually not toxic or harmful if accidentally eaten
- But it’s clearly a sign the fruit was already infested/overripe
- Risk increases if fruit is spoiled or moldy
🧼 How to prevent it next time
- Store berries in the fridge immediately
- Wash only right before eating (not before storage)
- Use a vinegar or salt-water soak (helps dislodge eggs)
- Check for soft spots when buying
🧠 Bottom line
If you saw visible wiggling larvae, the safest and most sensible choice is: throw them away and replace them.
If you want, I can also tell you:
- Vinegar vs salt water cleaning (which works better)
- How to properly wash berries to remove pesticides + insects
- Or how to tell when berries are still safe to eat vs spoiled
