What’s hiding in your banana fritters? Penang woman finds fried lizard

SHAH ALAM – What began as a routine takeaway snack quickly spiraled into a stomach-churning experience for a Malaysian woman who ordered pisang goreng tiramisu (tiramisu banana fritters) from a roadside stall in Bayan Baru, Penang.

Hidden under layers of shredded cheese and dessert toppings was the last thing she expected: a fried lizard.

The shocking discovery was documented in a 16-second video posted on TikTok by user @alisha.azni, where the charred remains of a reptile are clearly seen inside the paper container holding the fritters.

Using a fork, she lifted the object, rinsed it under running water and revealed the unmistakable shape of a lizard.

In the video’s caption and in follow-up comments, Alisha did not hold back her fury over the stall’s unsanitary practices.

“Bought tiramisu banana fritters and got a fried lizard.

"Be careful of irresponsible, filthy eateries. If you get food poisoning or die from it, you’ll have to bear it yourself because the seller doesn’t care as long as they profit,” she said.

She also mentioned that the stall had an overwhelming stench, describing it as smelling “like a sewer” and accused the seller of being indifferent when confronted.

“The seller didn’t even care when we told them. I’ve been to two clinics. I have had food poisoning since May 29 and I still have not recovered,” she said.

Although no official statement has yet been released by local authorities or the stall in question, the video has reignited concerns about the cleanliness and food handling standards of roadside eateries.

This is not the first time local food vendors have come under fire for hygiene lapses, but the grotesque nature of this incident involving a dead lizard deep-fried with dessert has elevated the concern to new levels. Consumers are calling for stricter enforcement, especially at popular street food locations.

For now, Alisha is recovering from food poisoning and hopes her story will keep others from suffering the same fate.

“I’m sharing this so others are careful when eating. This shop is disgusting,” she added.