The point of this post is to warn all edamame eaters. This is the second time this has happened to me so I assume it could be a common occurrence and I don't want anyone else to have to experience what I had to twice. And if it does happen to you, I want you to be prepared.
It is twice now that I have found a worm, yes a worm, a dead one, inside an edamame pod I was eating. It almost made me gag, which is saying something because it takes A LOT to gross me out.
Both times, I went to pop the seed out, and as I popped it out, I noticed the seed looked a bit brown, nothing that unusual, since occasionally there are little brown spots on edamame seeds. However, my quick glance at this seed turned into a longer inspection as I noticed this seemed to have a bit more brown than normal. As I opened the pod to get a better look, I realized the entire inside of half the pod was covered with a brown substance, and there, on top of the seed I was so anxiously awaiting to eat, was a dead worm. Ughhhhh.... now as I write this I'm getting the same churning feeling in my stomach as when I found that horrid creature... From my research on the subject, I haven't found much, only a few other bloggers telling a similar story. But I was able to conclude that it was most likely a soybean podworm, also known as a corn earworm.
However, I am such a fan of edamame, that I haven't let this experience turn me away. Instead, I have learned a valuable lesson:
DON'T pop the seeds out of the pod using your mouth, causing the seed to pop directly from the pod into your mouth, since this technique doesn't allow you to see the seed at all.
DO pop open the pod using your fingers, quickly glance at the seed and then eat it. This quick glance is all that is needed, since you will be able to tell immediately if closer inspection is required.
I hope you all continue to enjoy edamame, but do so with a more educated approach.
34 comments:
Though I've had edamame, I completely embarressed myself at Osaka the other night with my boyfriend. We excitedly ordered an appetizer of edamame, and when it came, I was puzzled when I found that they gave us a full plate of the soy bean pods as well as an empty plate. I knew something was wrong when I popped the first salty pod into my mouth...at first I was sure they hadn't cooked them enough...or something. Then I remembered back to that drunken super bowl night. Eat the beans...not the pod. Pod = bad.
Just came back from a Japanese Restaurant and in the edamame we found a worm (dead). Yuck! Now here is the real question, "Are they going to make us sick?" We didn't eat it but it was in with the other Edamame and it's just gross. I'm looking for more info about this whole Edamame Worm Thing!
this has happened to me twice. once when i was in 4th grade that caused me to not eat them until last year....and just today 11 years later...I FOUND ONE IN MY EDAMAME. =[ I'm glad though that im not the only one.
Our family loves edamame and often we buy frozen packages from the grocery store (Costco & T&T). Yesterday, my 3 year old daughter was eating some and luckily, she pops the beans out first. This time she noticed something different. She gave me the bean, and upon my shock, there was a dead worm, about 1/4" long in the pod. It resembled a maggot. My skin crawled! I remained poised, as I did not want my daughter to never eat edamame beans again, since it's one of the few vegetables she eats. I opened the pod and half of it was all webby. I don't think this will prevent me from eating them, but it definitely made me change the way I eat them. I will always open the pod up before I pop them in my mouth. Lesson learned!
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Eating worms is completely harmless and will just result in a little extra protein. Just think how many worms you have eaten before...
Well, I was at a Sushi restaurant in the Texas Medical Center, near Chipotle's (Leaving the name out so the restaurant won't get a bad rep) when, I, too, found a little yellowish worm (like a tiny catepillar-around 1/4" long) in the pod with one of the beans apparently eaten through. Well, I wasn't grossed out but immediately wondered how many of these bad boys I've eaten in the past with my direct-to-mouth technique. Well, needless to say, I am now using the direct to plate then eat later technique.
On another note, I pointed this out to the manager and told him to be careful with the Edamame (but looks like this is something that could be acceptable to the consumer-like the risk of eating sushi in the first place), and he gave me a free meal! So, next time you see one, don't toss out the pod, you may have just won yourself a free meal. There is a gold lining to this cloud.
Well... since they do grow outside in the dirt, wouldn't you expect to come across a worm sometime or another?
I found a worm that looked to me like a wax worm you use to fish with in my edamame pod. I too like others liked being able to pop that bean out and into my mouth! I had gotten so good at how to suck the bean out...but now I MUST change my way of eating them due to this unfortunate occurance! So, in short.....BEWARE OF THE WORMS.
This has happened to me twice so I'm sure I've eaten several and not known about it. The first was a fat, green caterpillar and the second was a small white worm. I'm done with pod edamame!
I too have been through this! Agreed, from now on I am ONLY buying shelled edamame!
My duaghter has found her second one int Woodstock Farms Whole Edamame POds. Luckily she is not totally grossed out, but I have contacted the company to see what they are going to do about it. Maybe chemicals are better than worms in your food!
I also just had a maggot looking worm in my edamame.. Calling they company did nothing. The gal asked what the expiration date was and I told her 1/17/2010, and she said..WOW.. that is old. What is the next step I should take?
I, too, have experienced worms in my edamame at a Japanese restaurant. Sounds like it's pretty common!
No less than 30 seconds ago I had this happen to me. It was from a bulk frozen package purchased from Sam's Club; Imperial was the brand I think.
Unfortunately, most people wouldn't even dream of searching for worms in edamame until it is too late...
Thanks for blogging about this!
We just got back from a Japanese restaurant in our neighbourhood where we eat quite often. Sure enough, big green worm in the edamame. Having only had a small plate of California rolls, my son offered me some from his huge meal. Both he and my husband were almost finished eating (including most of their edamame). I popped the first few straight into my mouth but fortunately for the next one, opened the pod first, only to make my discovery.
We are not a squeamish family but we were all grossed out, probably because the worm was quite large, bright green and horrid looking. We were discreet in letting the waitress/owner know. She was as horrified as we were. In the end, she took $5 off the bill which was ok but not great. Even though I had a small meal, my husband and son had the most expensive ones plus appetizers.
Oh goodness gracious! I got a frozen bag of edamame at target and just popped a damn worm into my mouth as well!! I wasn't that horrified because i didn't eat it and i've eaten a silk worm before...but i don't want them in my flipping edamame! yuckers. Plus, popping them into my mouth is so enjoyable...especially when i put salt on the pods...so sad!!!! and yes, so gross
I eat Edamame FOR the worm inside. Delish!
Bugs are unfortunately in all foods whether it be in egg or developed form...people just don't usually see them unless they start to grow. Unless a product like this is grown with a lot of pesticides, it is normal to find bugs here and there. I'd take a bug over all those chemicals.
One easy solution to the "worm in edamame pods" problem is to only purchase frozen shelled edamame. Okay, so this takes the fun out of opening the pods and popping the beans into your mouth or ordering edamame as an appetizer, but it is the easy way out.
Your blog keeps getting better and better! Your older articles are not as good as newer ones you have a lot more creativity and originality now. Keep it up!
And according to this article, I totally agree with your opinion, but only this time! :)
Ugh, so right now Im on break from class and decided to make my favorite snack... a plate full of edamame! So im so excited... sit down to eat, I pop one in my mouth and it is oh so delicious then pop another one in and as soon as i reach for the 3rd i look down at the plate and see that the second one I had eaten, had a worm hanging out of it!!! A pink gross WORM!! ahhhh so now im calmed down and just drinking alot of water...but as soon as i saw it i washed my mouth out, washed my face, gargled with peroxide and brushed my teeth...maybe a little bit much, but it was traumatizing! Unfortunately I think its going to take me a little while to start eating them again :(
Just had it happen last night! I'll definitely look before popping them into my mouth from now on!
I just made a bag of Nature's Promise edamame and I found a HUGEEEE worm...I usually don't pop them open before I eat them and this time just decided to. It resembles a maggot! It's the largest I've ever seen!! I also ran and washed my mouth out..a little extreme but I'm so nervous I'm making myself sick just thinking about it!
I have always shelled them before eating, sometimes mixing with a bit of butter (anything to get the kids to eat them!) Now, they love them, warm or room temp - no butter needed, but I never thought to mess with the pods at the table. And there's no going back to buying them shelled; you know they're just so much better cooked in the shell!
Found your blog when I googled "worms in edamame". I just found one and figured "meh, it happens" but as I opened another pod it had like a mini-colony inside. YUCK! I usually pop them from the pod into my mouth but the first worm was a giant green caterpillar I couldn't miss, so I made sure to keep looking. It's kind of funny how many of these things I've probably eaten without realizing it!
Thank you for this blog! I was popping edamame out of the pods for my little boy last night and noticed a maggot inside. They were frozen store bought so I returned the bag, the seeds and the maggot to the Jewel where I bought them. EEEWWWW! So disgusting!
WAAAH!!! This JUST happened to me. EW, I induced vomiting. Glad I'm not the only one though.
Yep me too in Wagamama - dont know what made me look down but needless to say I'd eaten half the pod before noticing the caterpillar and a load of brown sludge was on the ones I'd just eaten! Gross! I did get a discount but not sure I'll ever pop them in my mouth and enjoy the chilli garlic salt again - shame but hey, that's nature and not much the restaurant can do to control it
This JUST happened to me. I was eating edamame that had been frozen that I bought from the grocery and defrosted them in the microwave. And I had to get online to see if this has ever happened to anyone else before. I've never run to the bathroom to brush my teeth so fast in my life.
just happened to me too! ugh, I love edamame so much and tofu! (just think of how many mushed up worms are in there EWW)this is the one time I WANT more pesticides.
Just a thought... if a lot of us are finding wormies in our pods- how many have we unknowingly EATEN in soy PRODUCTS??? Maybe that is why soy is known to have such a high protein count.... lol jus sayin...
I often eat Edamame with sea salt three to four times daily well this morning I got a big surprise upon picking a pod out of box there lays a giant caterpillar all furry and gross it's almost look alive I am so sick to my stomach and as I am reading on line I have found out this have happen many times before to other peoples so I want to know why are they still able to sale this product to us with worms in it? What going on!
This happened to me twice this week. I have always eaten edamame at restaurants and never had frozen ah home until this week. Two different bags each had one worm. Before this I had always used my mouth to open the pods and now NO MORE. Two worms in two bags! How many have I eaten in the past? 🙈
I do know that there is a percentage or something of “acceptable” bug material that is allowed in foods but this seems like such a common occurrence I wonder if it’s within the “acceptable” limit or just common knowledge?
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