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Wendy's explains viral photo alleged to be 'giant bugs' in food from Toronto location

Wendy's baked potatoes have garnered a bad rap this week after one customer's photo of her very unappetizing dish went viral.

The patron, who apparently ordered the side from a Toronto location of the fast-food chain, was trying to showcase what she believed to be "huge baked bugs" on her cheese-smothered spud.

The evidence does indeed look damning at first glance, with multiple brown, wiry shapes dotting the food item.

The image, shared on multiple viral social media accounts, elicited disgust in hundreds who reacted — but there were also a few who stepped in to set the record straight on what we're actually looking at.

Those few who chimed in with comments like "the replies are full of people who don't now that a potato can have roots?" and "only about three of the 100 comments recognize a cooked potato eye… amazing detachment from real food" were correct in identifying normal, though unpleasant-looking, potato parts.

A spokesperson from Wendy's corporate confirmed to blogTO that the post does not show giant insects, though it does show a lesser omission on the restaurant's part.

"Wendy's Canada's commitment to serving up fresh, high-quality food in a safe and sanitary environment is of the highest priority. Unfortunately, potatoes can sprout and when cooked they can have an unsightly appearance," the representative said over email on Monday.

"Restaurant team members are trained to quality check potatoes for sprouts, so this should not have been served. We will connect with this customer to make it right, and we will take this opportunity to reinforce our high-quality standards with our franchise teams."

Lead photo by

@6ixbuzztv/X|Nheyob/Wikimedia Commons


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