A viral social media trend has people soaking strawberries in salt water and discovering tiny white, worm-like objects around the fruit. The videos have sparked disgust and concern, with many viewers wondering whether strawberries contain hidden parasites.

The experiment is simple: place fresh strawberries in a bowl of salted water and leave them submerged for several minutes. Afterward, small pale objects may appear on the fruit or in the water, sometimes seeming to move.

However, their appearance alone does not prove they are worms or that they came from inside the strawberries. Without examining them closely, it is impossible to identify exactly what they are.

Fresh produce grows outdoors and can occasionally come into contact with insects, larvae, soil, pollen, plant debris, and microorganisms. Some agricultural pests may lay eggs on plants or fruit, although this does not mean commercially sold strawberries are routinely infested.

Strawberries also have uneven surfaces covered with tiny structures and depressions. Soil, organic material, and small particles can become trapped in these areas, remaining difficult to notice until the fruit is submerged and moved around in water.

Salt changes the concentration of the surrounding solution, which may affect small organisms and particles. However, the available evidence does not establish that salt reliably pulls hidden worms out of strawberries or that every object appearing during the experiment is a parasite.

The important distinction is that a viral video cannot establish the identity or origin of what appears in the bowl. Some objects could be insect larvae, while others may simply be natural debris or material detached from the fruit’s surface.

You do not need to stop eating strawberries because of these videos. Instead, rinse them thoroughly under clean running water before eating, gently rubbing the surfaces to remove dirt and loose debris. Avoid using soap or household detergents on fresh produce.

Ultimately, the salt-water experiment highlights a real fact about fresh food: produce can carry traces of its natural growing environment. But dramatic videos should not be mistaken for scientific proof that ordinary strawberries are full of worms.