According to TikTok all pistachios contain actual worms, but how concerned should you be?

Right, I’m going to give a disclaimer right now. If you’re a pistachio lover I’d honestly just recommend you  read no further because no word of a lie the things you are going to read about and see will forever put you off pistachios. As for those who are either allergic or just don’t eat pistachios please join me as we work out how much truth there is behind pistachios containing worms, because we all know what TikTok is like.

@kendall._brown

Bruh Costco is getting sued fr. We definitely ate worms 😭 @Reese #fyp #viral #costco #foryou #worms

♬ original sound – kendall

Right, so there’s been a lot videos on TikTok recently of people finding dead or semi-alive worms in their pistachios and it’s enough to put anyone off eating them ever again. But is actually that common to find a dead worm in your bag of nuts or is TikTok just freaking out over nothing.

There’s a worm in my pistachio. Just lost my appetite.
byu/juicymonkeynuts inmildlyinfuriating

Well, in what could be a first I’m afraid that no, TikTok is actually right and worms in pistachios is an actual thing that’s far more common than it should be. But these aren’t your run of the mill garden worms, although visually they resemble maggots.

Instead, they’re called navel orangeworms and whilst they can also be found in figs, walnuts and pomegranates they’re most commonly found in pistachios. The moth lays her eggs on the pistachio, and the larvae buries its way into the centre of the nut where it begins to grow.

@k_wadee

Extra protein? #foodtok #bugs #grosstok

♬ Oh No Oh No Oh No No No – Dubskie

Because they’re so small as larvae the entrance hole is the size of a pinhole so there’s literally no way of knowing your pistachio has worms until you either bite into it or crack it in half.

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According to TikTok, telltale sign you’re eating some pistachios infected with worms is that it’ll have a bitter taste which comes partly from the worm itself and also the amount of faeces it leaves in the pistachio. And no, I really wish I was joking.

Friend of mine found a worm in his pistachio today. It’s no cinnamon covered shrimp tail but it’s still fucking gross!!
byu/swayzesclayhands inWellthatsucks

Sadly, there’s not a hugely effective way to deal with the moths unless huge amounts of pesticides are used. So currently you really are running the gauntlet as it’s more likely than not at least one pistachio in a pack will have a worm in it. And if you get a mixed pistachio and almond mixed nut bag well you’re just asking for worms at that point.

Don’t suppose I can offer anyone a nut in this trying time…

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Featured images via TikTok and Reddit.