In Chicago, during the Democratic National Convention, a disturbing incident occurred where mealworms were placed on tables at a hotel event, potentially causing illness to at least one person. Superintendent Larry Snelling of the Chicago Police mentioned that clues suggest individuals deliberately placed mealworms on the tables, not maggots as initially thought. Mealworms are larval forms of mealworm beetles, having wormlike bodies in yellow-to-brown colors, distinct from the soft-bodied white-to-transparent appearance of maggots, which are the larval stage of flies. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

The suspects, all women, entered the Fairmont Chicago hotel hosting a breakfast event for DNC delegates, placing unidentified objects on the tables with food before leaving around 6:45 a.m. Wednesday. A person who consumed the food containing the worms received medical attention and was discharged at the scene. The Fairmont Hotel acknowledged the disruption, stating that immediate actions were taken by the staff to clean and sanitize the area, ensuring the event could proceed without further issues.

This occurrence in Chicago echoes a similar protest earlier this year in Washington, D.C., where activists released hundreds of mealworms, maggots, and crickets at the hotel of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a demonstration against the conflict in Gaza.