Grabbing a hot drink from a vending machine when you’re in a hurry may not seem like a bad idea, until you realize you could be unknowingly swallowing bites of deadly insects and larvae.
Earlier this week, a 21-year-old woman went into anaphylactic shock and was left temporarily blind after ingesting fly-infested coffee from the vending machine at Son Sant Joan airport in Palma, Spain.
Terrifying images taken after the woman swallowed half the drink showed the cup full of flies, while she was unaware of the gruesome contents hidden inside.
Vending machines in public areas may be replenished periodically, but an infestation within the equipment may not be detected until it is too late.
MailOnline has investigated the hidden dangers of drinks vending machines and how you could end up swallowing deadly bugs in your morning coffee.
The coffee cup, photographed covered in flies after a 21-year-old woman drank from it, causing an allergic reaction that left her temporarily blind.
A coffee vending machine will offer milk, granulated coffee, and sometimes sugar and syrups that attract small insects that can get into the products before they are served.
Intestinal myiasis can occur when a person’s internal organs become infested with fly larvae. The larvae live on or in the person and survive by feeding on their tissues.
How do insects end up infesting vending machines?
Vending machine equipment is often stored indoors in warm, dry spaces, making it the ideal breeding ground for larvae.
Pests are attracted to sheltered, warm, dark and humid conditions with high concentrations of available food and often target the contents of the machine rather than the equipment itself.
A coffee vending machine will offer milk, granulated coffee, and sometimes sugar and syrups that attract small insects that can get into the products before they are served.
According to the Automatic Vending Association (AVA), ants and flies “are attracted to food scraps and are found where garbage bins are not emptied often enough.”
As vending machines are often located in open public spaces, the containers tend to be located nearby, making the machines an easy target for insect infestation.
The AVA warns that “pests are a health hazard and the problem (infestation) should be taken very seriously.”
Vending machine equipment is often stored indoors in warm, dry spaces, making it the ideal breeding ground for larvae.
Sales solutions They say that “food and beverage machines have compressors and condensers that need to be cleaned and maintained monthly.”
If products are left to gather dust and slowly rot, users may not realize that insects have contaminated the place and may proceed to place orders at the machine under the impression that the contents are fresh.
Coffee vending machines, in particular, should be washed at least once a day with hot water to remove any buildup of waste products; This can attract pests and become the base where they lay their eggs.
Spilled liquids mean that insects can not only hydrate through these consumable liquids, but also remain in place because they are attracted to sweet tastes.
What happens if I ingest insects and larvae?
A person can accidentally consume maggots if they eat or drink rotten produce infested with fly eggs and larvae.
Intestinal myiasis can occur when a person’s internal organs become infested with fly larvae.
The larvae live on or in the person and survive by feeding on their tissues.
Some people with intestinal myiasis do not experience any symptoms and may only realize they have an infestation after noticing larvae in their stool.
A person can accidentally consume maggots if they eat or drink rotten produce infested with fly eggs and larvae.
Deafness and blindness can also occur as a symptom of myiasis.
A disease called ‘EKC’ or ‘epidemic conjunctivitis’ is commonly known to be transmitted by flies or worms.
This disease causes redness or redness in the eyes and swollen eyelids, along with light sensitivity or mild photophobia, blurred vision, and eye pain.
Bacterial poisoning can also result from ingesting bugs, as flies can visit multiple food sources throughout the day and can carry harmful bacteria they have acquired from human or animal waste.
They can then transmit these deadly bacteria to the foods and drinks that people consume.
Larvae that develop in contaminated products can also ingest the bacteria.
People who eat this contaminated food or the larvae will also be exposed to the bacteria and may become ill.
Salmonella is another potential disease that can develop after consuming pests.
It is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness and symptoms of infection can include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fever.
Have people found pests in coffee equipment?
Earlier this week, an airline worker nearly died after drinking a bug-filled coffee he bought at an airport in Mallorca.
Speaking about the ordeal on Thursday, after spending 36 hours in ICU, he spoke of his shock after seeing “little antennae and wings” in his cup while he was halfway through his drink.
He noticed that the drink had a strange taste, and upon closer inspection, he noticed a swarm of winged insects crawling inside the cup.
The woman then revealed the terrifying moment she returned to her partner to inform him she couldn’t see anything.
His condition continued to worsen until he began to go into anaphylactic shock, with his face and throat swollen to the point where it was difficult to breathe.
His family has filed a complaint against the airport with the National Police.
Last year, an Australian mother issued a serious warning to coffee machine owners after discovering worms in the water and cracks of the equipment.
An Australian mother was shocked to find maggots in the water and crevices of her coffee machine after leaving it uncleaned for four days.
Los Angeles Woman Found Worms in Her Blender After Not Cleaning It Thoroughly
The horrified mother said that despite her best attempts to clean the machine, there were still worms moving in hard-to-reach places under the drip tray.
“I emptied the drip tray and it’s in the dishwasher, but I can see a worm (and I’m sure there are more) in places I can’t reach,” she said at the time.
Another Los Angeles woman was horrified to discover worms inside her blender just 24 hours after using it.
Niki Detrich was trying to prepare breakfast when some suspicious movements caught her attention.
The woman was surprised to find the larvae crawling on the blades of her blender and around the edge of the base.
He admitted that he only rinsed his blender with hot water after each use and that he used soap every three days.