Stephen Colbert has a cartoonish theory on how shrimp tails ended up in Cinnamon Toast Crunch

(Image credit: Screenshot/twitter/The Late Show)

Jensen Karp, a comedy writer in Los Angeles, opened a jumbo box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch on Monday morning and ... found more than just cereal. Karp told The Washington Post on Tuesday he discovered the two shrimp tails when pouring himself a second bowl. He says he first contacted General Mills, didn't hear back, then posted photos on Twitter.

Stephen Colbert sided with Karp on Tuesday's Late Show.

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When Karp's wife, Danielle Fishel Karp, suggested they open the second bag of cereal in the jumbo box, they discovered what appeared to be dental floss, plus other detritus, but also found that the bag appeared to have been taped up. General Mills claimed vindication. "While we are still investigating this matter, we can say with confidence that this did not occur at our facility," spokesman Mike Siemienas said. "We are waiting for the consumer to send us the package to investigate further. Any consumers who notice their cereal box or bag has been tampered with, such as the clear tape that was found in this case, should contact us."

Colbert also had a cartoonish explanation for how shrimp tails got into Karp's cereal.

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"I deal with things through comedy," but this isn't a joke or a prank, Karp told the Post. "I don't need to go viral for having ... shrimp tails in my food."

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.