Pet Owner in Michigan Says She Found Live Worms and Webs Inside Sealed Bag of Purina Pro Plan Dog Food
MICHIGAN — A Michigan woman says she was “completely disgusted” after opening a brand-new bag of Purina Pro Plan dog food and finding it infested with live worms and silk webs, sparking renewed scrutiny of the pet food giant’s quality control practices.
The dog owner, who goes by @2beefyboys on TikTok, posted a now-viral video showing the contaminated food, which has been viewed more than 888,000 times. In it, she warns other pet owners to check their bags carefully before feeding their animals.
“OK. I am so disgusted right now,” she says while showing the bag’s contents. “There are live worms and webs all over the inside of this brand-new bag of Purina Pro Plan. This is horrible. I can’t even believe this right now.”
Live Worms and Webs Found Inside a Sealed Bag
The woman explained that she accidentally opened the bag from the bottom instead of the top, revealing webs and moving larvae throughout the kibble.
“This is what my dogs would have been eating for a month if I had opened it from the right side,” she said. “This is unacceptable.”
The footage shows silk webbing along the corners of the bag — a sign of a stored-product pest infestation — and several visible larvae crawling among the kibble pieces.
“This happened to me a while ago, and I wrote Purina,” she continued. “They didn’t believe me. They said I must’ve stored it wrong, even though I keep it in an airtight container.”
She says this time, she’s determined to hold the company accountable:
“Purina totally gaslit me the last time this happened. But now I have proof, and I want people to know — do not buy this food.”
Experts Explain What the ‘Worms’ Likely Are
Entomology experts say the “worms” are most likely Indian meal moth larvae, one of the most common pests found in dry food products such as cereal, flour, grains — and even pet food.
According to the University of Maryland Extension, these moths can infest food products during processing, packaging, or storage, meaning contamination can occur before a customer ever buys the product.
The larvae produce silk webbing as they feed, which traps waste and shed skin. Once hatched, adult moths can continue the cycle if the contaminated food isn’t promptly discarded.
Pest control company Griffin Pest Solutions adds that these infestations often start at warehouses or retail stores, not in consumers’ homes.
“In all likelihood, you picked up your moths from your local grocery store,” the company explains. “Infestation can begin long before the product reaches your shelf.”
@2beefyboys PURINA PRO PLAN HAS LIVE WORMS INSIDE! Cut it open from the bottom!! This was a BRAND NEW bag!! We need to get these bags off the shelf!! @PURINA !!!#purinadogfood #purinadogfoodrecall #purinadogfoodillness #purinadogfoodworms
Purina’s Quality Control History
The discovery comes amid ongoing consumer complaints about Purina Pro Plan, one of the brand’s flagship pet food lines.
Between November 2023 and April 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) received roughly 1,300 adverse event reports related to Purina products — mostly from owners reporting illnesses in their pets, not contamination.
However, the pattern has raised concerns about the company’s oversight. In 2023, Purina issued a recall of its Veterinary Diets due to elevated vitamin D levels caused by a supplier error.
An FDA inspection of Purina’s Clinton, Iowa, facility in April 2024 resulted in a citation for failing to reanalyze its food safety plan, even after multiple consumer complaints.
Debate Among Pet Owners
Reactions to the video were split, with some users defending Purina and others calling for stricter regulation.
“I’ve used Purina for nine years — it’s gotta be a storage or supplier problem,” one commenter wrote.
Another countered, “That’s pantry moth larvae. It’s not your fault — it’s a warehouse problem. Bring the bag right back to the store.”
One veteran pet store worker chimed in:
“I’ve worked in a pet store for 8–9 years, and Purina is the only brand I’ve had people bring back food like that.”
What Consumers Should Do
Experts recommend checking dry pet food bags for any webbing, small larvae, or off smells before use. If contamination is found:
- Do not feed the product to pets.
- Seal it immediately and return it to the retailer for a refund.
- Clean the storage area thoroughly to prevent further infestation.
Customers can also report food safety concerns directly to the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine via its online reporting portal.
For now, the woman behind the viral video says she’ll never trust the brand again.
“This is the second time this has happened. I’m done with Purina.”
For updates on consumer safety, product recalls, and pet care alerts, stay with NapervilleLocal.com.
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