Yes—you should throw them away. Those white wiggling things are most likely tiny insects, larvae, or maggots that were living in the berries. Even if you soak them in salt water, it may not remove all contaminants, and eating them could pose a risk of foodborne illness.
Here’s what you need to know:
⚠️ Why it’s unsafe
- Fruit can harbor fruit fly larvae or other tiny insects that are invisible to the naked eye.
- Some larvae can carry bacteria or parasites that survive washing.
- Salt water may kill or make them float, but it does not sterilize the berries.
✅ Safe Steps
- Discard the contaminated berries—do not try to salvage them.
- Inspect other fruits from the same batch; wash thoroughly under running water.
- For future berries:
- Soak in water with a few drops of vinegar for 5–10 minutes, then rinse well.
- Refrigerate promptly.
- Buy fresh berries that are firm and intact, avoiding bruised or overripe ones.
Eating these berries is not worth the risk. Always err on the side of safety with fresh fruit showing signs of infestation.
If you want, I can give a quick trick to check and clean berries so this doesn’t happen again. Do you want me to share it?
