Tiny Brown Balls in Your Salad

Tiny Brown Balls in Your Salad …Here’s What They Might Be

You sit down to enjoy a fresh, crisp salad—only to notice something strange hiding in the leaves. A cluster of tiny brown balls, neatly arranged, tucked into your lettuce.

Grossed out? You’re not alone.

While it’s not something we expect to find in our lunch, those little spheres might be more than just dirt or debris—they could be insect eggs.

What Are Those Tiny Brown Balls on Your Lettuce?
If you’ve ever noticed small, perfectly round brown balls clustered on your greens, there’s a good chance they’re insect eggs, possibly from bugs like stink bugs or leaf beetles.

These insects often lay eggs in tight patterns on the undersides of leafy vegetables. Since salad greens like romaine, spinach, and butter lettuce are common hosts, they can sometimes make it onto your plate—especially if the produce wasn’t thoroughly washed or inspected.
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