Via iStockphoto / @tntandt TikTok
A TikToker has gone viral after sharing how the jalapeño popper she ordered ended up being covered with a moldy powder.
Jalapeño poppers are meant to involve a melt-in-your-mouth surprise. But the surprise this TikToker got from their Sonic popper was definitely an unwelcome one.
Showing the deconstructed popper to the camera, TikToker @tntandt stroked the portion of melted cheese, which was covered with what looks like white powdery mold.
“People be in my story be like, ‘Where you get that food at?'” she notes, continuing to show viewers the pepper while laughing, “You hungry as s—.”
In the video description, she directly tagged Sonic and asked, “Sonic, what is this? I’m so disgusted… Imagine biting into what you thought was a cheese-filled jalapeño popper and having actual powder fall out of it!”
The video garnered 209,400 views.
BroBible reached out to the commenter via TikTok direct message and Sonic via email.
People Were Appalled
Some commenters were disgusted.
“I’d have to pull my stomach inside out and put it in a wash cycle,” one quipped.
“You had that in your mouth at first?” a second asked. “Omgg ew, I woulda set Sonic ablaze.”
Others shared their own unsavory Sonic experiences.
“I stopped eating at Sonic after my drink had moldy fruit in it,” a third revealed. “Drank the whole drink and went to eat the cherries only to find them with mold. Never went back.”
“The Sonic close to me had maggots in their ice cream machine,” a fourth claimed.
While a fifth said, “I don’t eat Sonic no more after they gave me an expired milkshake. I damn near threw up after the first sip.”
In response to a sixth commenter, who claimed that she didn’t actually get that popper from Sonic’s, the TikToker shared a video of her shaking the moldy popper and powder falling out of it.
She added in the video description, “I’ll let the videos speak for themselves… As stated before I DID contact Sonic and received no real resolution. This was posted for awareness and to remind others to check their food. If it doesn’t concern you keep scrolling.”
When Is Mold Safe To Eat?
According to the BBC, certain molds are safe to consume. These include Penicillium roqueforti. It can be found on blue cheese, and botrytis cinerea, which is used in winemaking. However, when it comes to other types of mold, expert Dr. Patrick Hickey told the BBC that while you can maybe cut the moldy parts off, you should “do so at your own risk.”
According to Hickey, molds don’t tend to cause “sudden food poisoning.” However, he says it’s worth bearing in mind that some molds can produce certain toxins, known as mycotoxins.
In turn, he claims that if you consume a lot of mycotoxins, “it may cause gastrointestinal symptoms and more serious effects, including liver or kidney failure and death.”
The BBC also notes that acute poisoning is rare. Still, Hickey adds that “there’s concern that if consumed repeatedly, mycotoxins may cause cumulative effects and lead to illness.”
Moreover, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service website warns people that foods high in moisture may be contaminated deep below the surface. The site also claims that moldy foods may also have bacteria growing alongside the mold. It recommends that moldy “soft” cheeses, which include all kinds of shredded, sliced, and crumbled cheese, should be disposed of.