How YOU could end up swallowing deadly insects in your coffee: The disgusting hidden dangers of drink vending machines that can be a breeding ground filled with larvae

Picking up a hot drink from a vending machine while in a rush may not seem like a bad idea, until you realise you could be swallowing mouthfuls of deadly larvae and insects without knowing.

Earlier this week, a 21-year-old woman suffered anaphylactic shock and was left temporarily blind after ingesting a fly infested coffee from the Son Sant Joan  airport vending machine in Palma, Spain.

Horror images taken after the woman had gulped down half of the beverage showed the cup swarming with flies - while she was unaware of the grisly contents hidden within.

Vending machines in public areas may be restocked on a regular basis, but spotting an infestation within the equipment may not be picked up, until it's too late.

MailOnline has looked into the hidden dangers of drink vending machines, and how you could end up swallowing deadly insects in your morning coffee.

The coffee cup, pictured covered in flies after a 21-year-old woman drank from it which caused her to have an allergic reaction that made her temporarily blind

A coffee vending machine will offer milks, coffee granules, and sometimes sugar and syrups which draws in the tiny bugs that can worm their way into the products before they are served to you

Intestinal Myiasis can occur when a person's internal organs become infested with fly larvae. The larvae live on or inside the person and survive by feeding off their tissues

How do insects end up infesting vending machines?

Vending machine equipment is often kept indoors in warm and dry spaces, making it the ideal breeding ground for larvae.

Pests are attracted to sheltered, warm, dark, and moist conditions with high concentrations of available food, and often centre on the contents of the machine rather than the equipment itself.

A coffee vending machine will offer milks, coffee granules, and sometimes sugar and syrups which draws in the tiny bugs that can worm their way into the products before they are served to you.

According to the Automatic Vending Association (AVA), ants and flies 'are attracted to waste food and are found where waste bins are not emptied frequently enough'.

As vending machines are often placed in open, public spaces, bins tend to be located nearby -making the machines an easy target for bugs to infest.   

The AVA warn 'the pests constitute a health hazard and the issue (infestation) should be taken very seriously'.

Vending machine equipment is often kept indoors in warm and dry spaces, making it the ideal breeding ground for larvae

Vending Solutions say that 'drink and food machines have compressors and condensers that need to be cleaned and maintained monthly'.

If they are left to gather dust and the products are left to slowly rot, users may not be aware that insects have contaminated the site and may proceed to order from the machine under the impression that the contents are fresh.

Coffee vending machines in particular should be flushed at least once a day with hot water to eliminate any build-up of waste product - this can attract pests and become the base of where they lay their eggs.

Spilled liquids mean not only can the insects hydrate themselves through these consumable liquids, they also remain at the site due to being attracted to the sweet flavours.

What happens if I ingest insects and larvae?

A person may accidentally consume maggots if they eat or drink rotten products infested with fly eggs and larvae.

Intestinal Myiasis can occur when a person's internal organs become infested with fly larvae.

The larvae live on or inside the person and survive by feeding off their tissues.

Some people with intestinal myiasis do not experience any symptoms and may only realize that they have an infestation after noticing larvae in their stools. 

A person may accidentally consume maggots if they eat or drink rotten products infested with fly eggs and larvae

Deafness and blindness can also occur as a symptom of myiasis.

A disease called 'EKC' or 'Epidemic Conjunctivitis' is commonly known to be brought by flies or maggots.

This disease causes red or pinkness in the eye and swollen eyelids, as well as sensitivity towards light or mild photophobia, blurry visions, and pain in the eyes.

Bacterial poisoning can also be a result of ingesting the creepy crawlies as flies can visit multiple food sources throughout the day, and they may carry harmful bacteria that they have picked up from human or animal waste.

They can then transmit these deadly bacteria to  foods and drink that people consume.

Larvae that develop in the contaminated products can also ingest the bacteria.

People who eat this contaminated food or the larvae will also get exposure to the bacteria and may become unwell.

Salmonella is another potential illness that can be developed after consuming pests.

It is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness and symptoms of infection can include abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Have people found pests in coffee equipment?

Earlier this week, an airline worker almost died after drinking an insect-filled coffee she bought from a Majorca airport.

Speaking out about the ordeal on Thursday, after spending 36 hours in the ICU, she told of her shock after spotting 'little antennas and wings' in her cup while halfway through drinking her beverage.

She noticed the beverage tasted funny and upon closer inspection, she noticed a swarm of winged insects crawling around inside the cup.

The woman then revealed the terrifying moment she returned to her partner to inform them that she couldn't see anything.

Her condition continued worsening until she began having an anaphylactic shock - with her face and throat swelling up to the point she struggled to breathe. 

Her family have now filed a complaint against the airport to the National Police.

Last year, an Aussie mum issued a serious warning to coffee machine owners after she discovered maggots in the water and crevices of the equipment.

An Aussie mum was shocked to find maggots in the water and in the crevices of her coffee machine after she left it without cleaning it for four days

A woman from Los Angeles found maggots in her blender after not thoroughly cleaning it 

The horrified mum said that despite her best attempts to clean the machine, there were still maggots moving around in hard to reach spots beneath the drip tray. 

'I emptied the drip tray and it's in the dishwasher but I can see a maggot (and I'm sure there's more) in parts I can't get to,' she said at the time. 

Another woman from Los Angeles was left horrified after discovering maggots inside her blender, just 24 hours after using it.

Niki Detrich was trying to make breakfast when suspicious movements caught her eye.

The woman was shocked to find the larvae crawling on her blender blades and around the rim of the base.

She admitted to only rinsing her blender out with hot water after each use - and using soap every third day.