‘It MOVEDDDD’: Texas H-E-B Customer Buys Chocolate Fairlife Core Power Drink. Then She Feels Something Strange In Her Mouth

Most of us probably take for granted that sealed, prepackaged drinks are safe to consume. So long as it isn’t expired or otherwise sus, we’re not exactly inclined to inspect the contents before taking a swig. One woman in Texas wishes she had done just that.

She says there was something in her chocolate-flavored Fairlife Core Power that definitely didn’t belong.

Over the weekend, Leslie (@oxleslie) shared the harrowing experience on TikTok. In it, she brandishes the Fairlife Core Power she says she just bought at an H-E-B to put in her coffee.

Aiming the camera into a coffee cup of liquid, she says, “Tell me why, first of all, there is that in there.” You can see black debris floating at the top.

Then she focuses the camera on the counter where there’s spilled liquid and a small object covered in the same. “I felt something in my mouth, and this came out,” she says, poking it with a pencil. “I’m not even joking, guys. I had to spit it out. It was literally just crawling everywhere.”

After she pokes it, the insect starts to move. “Oh my god. That is actually so disgusting,” Leslie says.

Could A Live Insect Be In A Fairlife Core Power?

There’s no way to know exactly where the insect or debris came from. Both could’ve been in the Fairlife Core Power, as Leslie believes, or it could’ve been in her coffee cup. She didn’t respond to BroBible’s inquiries sent via TikTok direct message and comment.

It does seem rather unlikely that an insect could survive in a factory-sealed beverage absent some sort of puncture. Most live insects that are found in factory-produced consumables like Fairlife are in food, not drinks.

An expert from Wine Spectator previously reported that it’s “unlikely” anything could survive in a sealed bottle.

While unlikely isn’t the same as impossible, unless there was a hole in the bottle, it was tampered with, or it somehow became unsealed, the odds that a live insect was in the Fairlife beverage are exceedingly slim.

It is possible, however, that a live insect was on, rather than in, the Fairlife. It may have gotten there in transport, either to H-E-B or after Leslie bought it. Fairlife didn’t respond to BroBible’s emailed inquiry. H-E-B did not respond to an email sent Wednesday morning.

No matter how it got there, one thing’s for certain: that bug did not belong.

Alleged Bug In Fairlife Inspires Disgust, Blame, And Calls To Sue

Leslie’s insect allegation about Fairlife inspired a swarm of comments.

Many expressed horror. “I thought it was a chunk then it MOVEDDDD,” one wrote. A second speculated, “IS THAT A MAGGOT???!”

Several urged Leslie to retain counsel or, as one put it, “Get your money Queen.”

It’s not likely Leslie would succeed in such a case, however. For one, it’s next to impossible to prove the bug came from the drink. Secondly, other than feeling extremely grossed out, she does not appear to have been damaged in any way.

Multiple commenters blamed cuts at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for what they see as an increase in reports of insects in food and drinks. While manufacturers clearly have an incentive to ensure there aren’t bugs in their products, they do have a point. As NPR reported in April, cuts to the FDA could make our food and drugs less safe.

Although product contamination isn’t really a laughing matter, people did bring jokes to the comments.

“Girl how you think they get the protein in there duh,” wrote one.

“It’s true lol. Most proteins powders and bars are made from protein from bugs,” another person agreed. (Protein powders are not made from bugs.)

While the live insect could’ve come from elsewhere, for now, Leslie is off Fairlife.

“Don’t buy them off the shelf. Don’t even buy them,” she concludes her post. “I don’t even know, but that is so disgusting.”