Former Texas Roadhouse worker calls out the outlet for ‘scooping out’ a bug from their cinnamon butter, but people noticed something even worse
You can’t trust these kitchens at all.
Everyone has seen the viral videos of secret menu hacks or behind-the-scenes kitchen tours. But one former Texas Roadhouse server’s “throwback” TikTok of a bug in cinnamon butter is a literal nightmare. People with a fear of bugs, you might want to sit this one out.
A former Mississippi employee has gone viral after sharing a video of a live insect wiggling its legs inside a container of the chain’s famous cinnamon butter. The video, posted by TikTok creator Katie-Lynn (@katswatek_), has already racked up over 2.9 million views.
The sight of the bug was enough to make stomachs churn. But her claim about the management’s reaction was what really sparked the fire. According to Katie-Lynn, the staff did not throw out the cinnamon butter batch. Instead, they simply “scooped” out the bug and kept on serving it to unsuspecting guests.
But even if you overlook the bug, there was something else in the butter to put you off.
What are stinkbugs and are they toxic?
The uninvited guest in the butter appears to be a common stinkbug. It’s a shield-shaped insect known for being more of a nuisance than a deadly threat. While seeing one in your food is a total breakdown of hygiene standards, these pests are not considered dangerous or poisonous to humans.
Stinkbugs do not bite, sting, or spread diseases. Their toxicity is limited to the foul-smelling chemicals they release as a defense mechanism when they feel threatened. According to Poison Control, they are not poisonous if accidentally ingested.
However, their defensive secretions can cause mild mouth irritation, stomach upset, or even vomiting if they are crushed or chewed. In rare cases, the fluids they produce can cause skin irritation or mild allergic reactions for sensitive individuals.
Viewers spotted mold right next to the live bug
As the footage circulated, eagle-eyed viewers quickly shifted their focus from the twitching legs of the insect to something even more alarming. Right beside the bug, there was a dark, grayish patch that many immediately labeled as mold.
The comments section exploded with health code violation warnings. Viewers feared the butter was not only infested but also decaying. And even if stinkbugs are not toxic, ingesting mold is a whole different story.
However, Katie-Lynn was quick to clear the air on that particular speculation. In a reply, she clarified that what looked like fuzzy mold was actually just the base of the industrial container.
According to her, the silver-ish, metallic surface of the tub was peeking through where the butter had been scraped away. This created an optical illusion that looked far more sinister on camera than it was in person. But after seeing the bug, it wasn’t too unbelievable that there would be mold in the container as well.
Texas Roadhouse stepped up to defend the bug footage
Texas Roadhouse was quick to distance itself from the viral footage. A spokesperson for the company clarified to BroBible that Katie-Lynn has not worked for the chain for over a year. They also assured that the video is not a current representation of their kitchens. But there’s no way to verify that claim.
The brand emphasized that they use fresh produce. Despite that, insects can occasionally make it through the washing and prep process. This is because their ingredients are not chemically treated for shelf-life. But that is no excuse for scooping out a bug and serving it like nothing happened.
Hygiene is a transaction of trust, and bugs shouldn’t be a part of the menu
What Texas Roadhouse needs to realize anyway is customer experience relies heavily on what happens when the cameras aren’t rolling. While a stinkbug might not be toxic, the idea of a server scooping out a pest and moving on is a total breach of food safety protocols.
If a restaurant is willing to gatekeep the truth about their ingredients, it’s only a matter of time before a guest catches them in 4K. As a precaution, you might want to give your next side of cinnamon butter a very close look before you start dipping.
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