It started like any ordinary weekday lunch. I was eating a simple salad from a place I visit often — familiar, convenient, and trusted. Nothing about the meal felt unusual until I lifted my fork for the next bite and noticed something small clinging to a leaf of lettuce.At first, I assumed it was seasoning or a grain that hadn’t mixed properly. But the longer I looked, the more uneasy I felt. The tiny, round balls were packed together in a way that didn’t resemble food at all.
I leaned in closer — and immediately lost my appetite.What I saw wasn’t quinoa or seeds. It was a tight cluster of pale, bead-like spheres arranged with unsettling precision. The kind of pattern nature creates, not kitchens. I set my fork down instantly, relieved I hadn’t taken the bite yet, and felt a wave of disgust wash over me.
