We ordered a salad, but there were tiny black specks in the food – we went straight to the hospital

The hospital ride felt endless, every pang in our bodies suddenly alarming. Tests and preventive treatments followed, as doctors explained how insect eggs on unwashed greens can rarely cause serious illness. We left physically fine but shaken, our fear untouched by apologies or vouchers. Since then, we check every leaf and berry twice — not out of paranoia, but awareness. One horrifying discovery had changed how we see every meal.