If you’ve been scrolling through social media recently, you may have come across videos showing people soaking strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries in salt water and discovering tiny white larvae wriggling out. The sight can be unsettling enough to make some people question whether they should eat berries at all. In many cases, however, the larvae are associated with the spotted wing drosophila, a small fruit fly that can lay eggs inside ripening soft fruit. Unlike common fruit flies, this insect can pierce healthy-looking berries while they are still developing, allowing the fruit to appear completely fresh on the outside.

The popular salt-water method may cause some larvae hidden inside the fruit to emerge, making them easier to spot. People commonly mix salt with water and soak the berries for several minutes, although this is not a standard food-safety requirement and does not guarantee that every larva will be removed. Spotted wing drosophila can affect strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and cherries, regardless of whether they were conventionally or organically grown. Finding these insects does not necessarily indicate that the fruit was poorly handled or produced under unsafe conditions.

The good news is that accidentally eating these larvae is generally considered to pose a very low health risk. With fresh berries, the more important concerns are harmful microorganisms and spoilage. Before eating them, look carefully for mold, unusual odors, excessive softness, sliminess, leaking juice, or signs of a heavy infestation. Berries that are fresh and firm, without visible signs of spoilage, can generally be eaten after being thoroughly rinsed under cool running water.

To clean your berries, place them in a colander and gently rinse them under cool running water, removing any damaged or moldy pieces. Washing them shortly before eating is usually preferable because excess moisture can cause berries to deteriorate more quickly. Although discovering tiny larvae can certainly be unpleasant, their presence does not automatically mean the fruit is unsafe. A careful inspection, thorough rinse, and removal of spoiled berries can help you enjoy fresh fruit while it is still in good condition.