An Australian cafe has responded after a customer found live maggots inside one of its ham and cheese croissants.
In a TikTok clip uploaded on Monday, which now has three million views, a user named @lillylimeys filmed the bugs crawling inside the pastry.
She said she was on a routine breakfast run before work when she decided to grab the snack.
Once in the office, she took the top off the croissant so it was easier to eat.
It was then she spotted the maggots and decided to pull out her phone to record the horrifying sight.
“I hope everyone’s morning was better than mine,” she wrote in text over the clip.
Gross find inside croissant
The cafe has since been identified as POT at Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills, and according to Lilly, the owner promised her a refund.
“I fear I need more than a refund – I need therapy,” she joked.
She also noted that she didn’t want to “take them down” but rather make them “own up to their mistakes” and realize “how serious this actually is.”
Maggots are larvae of flies, and according to Healthline, can cause bacterial poisoning if ingested due to the spoiled food they typically thrive in. They can also carry harmful microorganisms like Salmonella and E. coli.
Maggots can get into food during preparation if flies enter, and lay eggs, but they can also enter storage containers or units, such as a cafe’s display shelf, if they aren’t properly sealed.
People quickly flooded the post with comments and likes.
“Call me dramatic, but I would never eat again,” one person said.
“I would actually die on the spot,” another admitted.
“I really hope you didn’t take a bite out of that,” another wrote, with Lilly confirming: “I did.”
Council investigating
A Mount Barker Council spokesperson told news.com.au that they had received a complaint and are investigating the matter.
“Outcomes of a food complaint investigation depend on the determined current and ongoing risk and can include further inspections and analysis, or enforcement actions,” the spokesperson said.
This can include fines, improvement notices, or prosecution if breaches of the Food Act 2001 are found. It can also end in no further action if there no ongoing public health risk is determined.
Cafe’s public apology
The cafe has since shared a public apology on Instagram on Wednesday afternoon.
It read: “Just a quick heads up apropos some recent social media woes. A one-off mishap on our behalf – about which we were mortified and apologetic – has resulted in a most unfortunate ‘viral-moment’, from a single post.
“We pride ourselves on giving locals and tourists alike a unique and special artisanal treat here in Hahndorf, and we do so 99.99999 percent of the time. We simply ask that you not be swayed by one incident or ‘review’, but try us for yourselves or maintain the faith and come in again soon.”
Despite the apology, many didn’t think it was “enough” given the situation.
“It was MAGGOTS in the food, this isn’t an ‘oopies’ one off, that is a major violation health risk,” said one.
“This isn’t just a mishap,” another wrote, as someone else called it “dismissive.”
Cafe’s private messages
Lilly quickly made a follow-up video (which has since been deleted) claiming the cafe’s apology was “inadequate.”
“I still haven’t received an adequate apology or my refund despite them speaking publicly,” she said.
Explaining the moment in detail she said, “I picked up a piece of meat and I eat it and I look down and I see a little wiggly thing on my hand. I then spat it out and ran outside and started gagging.”
Lilly then messaged the cafe on Instagram to let them know what happened and urged them to stop selling the croissants immediately.
According to screenshots she shared, the cafe apologized and said “bloody flies” before vowing to give Lilly a refund.
“That’s a crazy response for maggots being on your meat,” Lilly said.
She then decided to send them the video to show them the severity of the situation, and their reply was: “It’s okay, I believed you, thanks.”
She decided to call the council and was relieved when they said they would investigate the matter, but she’s still “shocked” by the whole ordeal.
“People make mistakes, it’s inevitable,” she said. “But it’s pretty serious and the way they’ve responded is a bit disappointing … this is a real risk. I could have been severely sick, not just from the maggots but from the ham.”
On Thursday morning, the cafe took to Instagram with a follow-up apology.
It read: “Firstly, I want to say please read this with an open heart and mind and know that I accept full responsibility and understand the severity of what has occurred.
“I asked for help with my post yesterday as I was devastated and not able to pen one myself.
“It was never meant to be flippant and I should of screened it further, but the intention was to address, not offend.
“I am happy to discuss these incidents individually. I went against my gut feeling and provided pre-prepared food and left it out in an open-air environment – I know there was a risk of flies as my windows and doors are open. I succumbed to the pressure of having quick grab-and-go food available when I was not on site, and for succumbing to that pressure and I am so p*ssed off at myself.
“Please be assured, all other food I prepare to order, so I can promise nothing nasty.
“I am ceasing pre-prepared food.
“I hold no malice or ill feeling towards the customers and are forever apologetic to them and can I please ask that for everyone involved.
“Also I know this has caused some awful conversations between people, PLEASE can I ask you to be kind and direct your anger or thoughts towards me.”
She signed the message off with, “Wholeheartedly broken, Winnie.”
News.com.au has reached out to Lilly and the cafe for comment.
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