CHARLOTTE — A Johnson C. Smith University student believed she found a maggot in her food.
However, the health inspector said it's a worm -- the kind you may normally find in broccoli on the farm.
They are not dangerous, but not what you would expect to find on your plate.
The student posted the pictures of the worm on Twitter. It didn't take long for these images to be seen by students all over campus.
"It's crazy cause when I first heard about it I was on my way to the caf," said student Justin Wray.
Wray said he has never had a problem with the food.
"I have still been eating the food. I mean it don't bother me," he said.
Other students were outraged.
"That is something that should never happen. The school should take ownership and we should probably get rid of Perkins," student Juwan Sneed said.
Perkins Management Services prepares and serves the food.
Some students said that needs to change immediately.
Perkins Food Services said they contacted the health department as soon as the student found the worm. A health inspector went to the cafeteria.
She said she could not find and worms in other food served there and didn't see any bugs in the food preparation area.
She told Channel 9 it appears the worm was cooked with the food.
An executive vice president for Perkins told Eyewitness News by phone he believes the worm was placed in the food after it was prepared.
His company released a statement saying someone did this to make Perkins look bad.
"This object was not cooked or prepared in the food that was served we are taking proper precautions and prevent this from happening again," said executive vice president Barry McCauley Jr.
He said as a precaution, Perkins workers are making changes in the way they inspect and prepare food and they will have an outside vendor spray for inspects.
JCSU student claims to find worm in food
This browser does not support the video element.