Insect Larvae Found in Daycare Meal: "Playing With Children's Food" Parents Outraged

Photo of Larvae Floating on Scorched Rice Spreads Rapidly
"Hygiene Concerns Raised Over Suspected Rice Moth Larvae"

Parents are growing increasingly anxious after insect larvae were discovered in a meal photo from a daycare center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

A daycare center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, has sparked controversy after foreign substances resembling insect larvae were found in a meal photo it released. Instagram thread

On September 10, a post titled "Photo of maggots uploaded to Kids Note by a daycare center in Songtan, Pyeongtaek" began circulating on social media and local online communities, accompanied by a photo. The released image showed a food tray containing scorched rice, with several larvae visibly floating on top.

The author of the post expressed outrage, saying, "If the photo uploaded to Kids Note looks like this, what did the children actually eat?" and added, "They are playing with the food children eat." The post quickly spread across various online communities and local parenting forums. Parents who saw the post voiced their concerns, saying, "As a parent sending my child to daycare, I feel uneasy," and "I'm planning to enroll my child next year, and now I'm worried," unable to hide their anxiety.

Some users pointed out, "Photos uploaded to Kids Note are usually the best ones chosen, so if insects were visible, the actual meals might have been even worse." Another netizen raised suspicions, saying, "Could this have been intentionally photographed for whistleblowing purposes?" and "It might have been staged."

Storage Practices and Hygiene Inspections Under Scrutiny

A user claiming to work for a pest control company analyzed the insect in the photo, stating, "It appears to be the larva of a rice moth (Corcyra cephalonica)." He explained, "What we commonly call maggots are fly larvae, but in this case, it's a moth larva," and added, "This could be due to poor rice storage in the kitchen or the scorched rice itself being contaminated before delivery."

The daycare center in question has reportedly undergone an investigation by the relevant authorities. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety inspected the rice storage conditions and ingredient expiration dates, and Pyeongtaek City is expected to decide soon whether to impose administrative sanctions.

Meanwhile, the government conducts regular inspections of daycare centers twice a year. However, there has been ongoing criticism that, because local governments announce inspection schedules in advance, the true state of hygiene management often remains hidden.