Last week, the CDC tweeted a photo of what appears to be a regular poppy seed muffin — but it's not, because some of those poppy seeds are actually ticks... yes, TICKS.
Ticks can be the size of a poppy seed. Can you spot all 5 ticks in this photo? Learn how to prevent tick bites. https://t.co/ATtrY7YFoS https://t.co/gBm4tw2qmf
Poppy seed muffins are unarguably one of America's favorite baked goods. They're simple, tasty, and always a safe choice at the continental breakfast buffet. But now, you might not want to go near another poppy seed muffin for as long as you live, thanks to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On May 4, the CDC tweeted a photo of a poppy seed muffin with the following message: "Ticks can be the size of a poppy seed. Can you spot all 5 ticks in this photo?" and a link to a tick bite prevention fact sheet. It has now been shared over 1,500 times and caused quite the controversy on the internet, for obvious reasons.
The tweet was posted shortly after the CDC published a report on the increase of tick-, flea-, and mosquito-borne illnesses in the US. The tiny arachnids can spread a number of serious and life-threatening diseases to humans, including Lyme disease and the Powassan virus, especially during the warmer months in the Northeast and Midwest regions.
Here are the five ticks just in case you couldn't spot them in the photo. They're the poppy seeds with legs.
The CDC might've been trying to show that ticks are small and easy to miss, but their use of a muffin to illustrate this point just ended up grossing everyone out.
Seriously, people are not happy about the tick muffin. Here are some of the replies to the CDC's original tweet:
@CDCgov What kind of asshole puts ticks on a muffin?
@CDCgov WHO AT THE CDC WAS TRAUMATIZED BY MUFFINS AS A CHILD?
@CDCgov That muffin was fine before the ticks and you ruined it
@CDCgov Please don’t ever do this again
@CDCgov Potlucks at the CDC must be a hoot.
Several days later, the CDC followed up with an apology tweet: "Sorry we ticked some of you off!"
Sorry we ticked some of you off! Don't let a tick bite ruin your summer. Protect yourself: https://t.co/zT2cMR2kKW.
Still, it doesn't change the fact that poppy seed muffins, breads, bagels, and buns are ruined forever.
