Man goes to Tim Hortons and sees some Harry Potter-themed donuts. Then he takes a closer look: ‘I was deeply concerned’

A TikTok user filmed some Harry Potter-themed donuts at a Tim Hortons. After zooming in, the footage showed insects on the frosting. Ashfaaq, who posts as @ashfaaq727, shared the clip about a location he identified as Tim Hortons on Highway 7.

In the caption, he wrote, “I was deeply concerned to observe insects and small creatures moving around in food products being served to customers at Tim Hortons on Highway 7.” He said that raised “serious concerns about food hygiene, cleanliness, and the quality of the products being offered to the public.”

He urged management to investigate right away and to take steps so food is “stored, handled, and served under proper hygienic conditions.” He added, “Customers deserve food that is safe, clean, and suitable for consumption.” The caption carried hashtags that included #TimHortons, #timhortonscanada, #timhorton, and #FoodSafety.

The camera stayed on insects moving across the frosting

The footage opened on a glass display case with trays of donuts. On the left were yellow-frosted donuts labeled “Hufflepuff Lemon Meringue DONUT,” priced at $2.79. On the right were pink-frosted donuts labeled “Gryffindor Strawberry Cheesecake DONUT,” also priced at $2.79.

The camera zoomed in on the pink tray. A small dark insect appeared to crawl across the white frosting of the front donut. Ashfaaq did not name the insect in the caption, and the clip did not include a closer identification.

The view then shifted left to the yellow-frosted donuts. Another small insect appeared to crawl on the frosting of the front yellow donut. The camera held there for several seconds while the insect kept moving on the product. One look at food items can reveal disturbing details, as when a Texas woman ordered an iced coffee with one cream and went back inside.

The shot later tilted up and pulled back to a wider view of the counter. Digital menu boards above the counter listed “Fresh Baked Treats” and “Hogwarts House Donuts,” along with coffee drinks. Bottles of Tim Hortons iced coffee and tins of Tim Hortons coffee sat on the counter before the camera moved back toward the donut case.

Viewers then offered their own accounts of insects around similar displays. One commenter said earlier clips had been hard to accept until a breakfast stop during a trip through Ontario.

They wrote, “I’ve seen other videos showing the same thing in the past and I somehow doubted it. I doubt it no more because I have seen it for myself on a trip through Ontario when we stopped for breakfast and saw flies, a ladybug and gnats or no-see-ums (whatever they are called) flying around inside the donut and muffin showcase. I will frequent Tim Hortons no more…. knowing there are flies and gnats right where we can see them makes you wonder just what’s in the back that we can’t see.”

Another commenter treated the insects as fruit flies and said the problem was not limited to one shop. They wrote, “They’re fruit flies and they’re ABSOLUTELY EVERYWHERE right now. I was in the hospital they have them. My house does, if you live in the GTA guess what They’re EVERYWHERE.” For Tim Hortons, the complaints don’t stop at the in-store experience, as one customer paid nearly $3 for breakfast and got a coffee she could barely touch.

A third commenter focused on store visits over time rather than the insects in this clip. They wrote, “Sadly Tim Hortons has gone down hill for years now . I used to love it going to get my coffee there but now , I only go there if I absolutely have to . Otherwise I gladly go to Williams coffee . It’s the experience the Tim Hortons used to have in their buildings to though sadly don’t anymore and that’s a clean , family type experience.”