A reader wrote to us a couple of days ago about some worms or larvae he found in a homemade snack bar. (Technically, the worms or larvae were found in a protein bar, but we aren’t sure what is in the protein bar, so this further specificity isn’t really helpful.) The reader was first of all wondering what the worms or larvae are (that’s why we keep using the phrase “worms or larvae” – he wasn’t sure what he found), and he was also wondering if they could cause harm if ingested, as the reader took a bite of the snack bar before discovering the creatures within it. We’ll address both questions – what are the worms or larvae in the protein bar, and are they safe to eat? – in turn.