Tag: Pantry pests

Most people have encountered unwelcome visitors in their pantry at some point, and it's a fact that eggs of various grain pests can survive the milling process. The question, 'are mealworms in flour?' is surprisingly common and points to a significant aspect of food storage.

According to the World Health Organization, an estimated 600 million people fall ill each year from eating contaminated food. When it comes to finding unwanted guests like moths or weevils in your pantry, a common question arises: is it dangerous to consume these bugs and their contaminated food? This guide breaks down the risks, so you know exactly what to do.

According to the Whole Grains Council, whole grain flours and meals, like wheat bran, spoil faster than intact grains. But does this mean you need to refrigerate wheat bran? The answer depends on how quickly you plan to use it and your home's storage conditions.

Over time, the delicate oils within chia seeds can oxidize, causing them to spoil. Spotting rancid seeds is crucial for food safety, and knowing what do rancid chia seeds look like can help you avoid potential health issues. A quick visual check, coupled with a scent test, is often the most reliable way to tell if your seeds are still good.

According to entomologists, the average person unknowingly consumes approximately half a kilogram of insects each year. The discovery of weevils in oats is often less about health risks and more about the 'gross factor'. This article explores the safety and best practices for addressing this common pantry pest.

According to food safety experts, accidentally consuming weevils or other pantry pests is generally harmless to humans and does not transmit disease. However, the discovery of these tiny bugs is unpleasant, leading many to wonder, can weevils in flour hurt you beyond the 'ick' factor?

While weevils are a common and unpleasant sight in stored grains, they are not directly harmful to humans. Many people understandably worry, "Will weevils make me sick?", but accidental ingestion typically poses no serious health threat. The real danger lies not with the weevils themselves, but with the unsanitary conditions that allow them to thrive.

Weevils, a family of beetles known for their long snouts, are notorious for finding their way into our pantry staples. So, what foods do weevils typically infest? The answer lies mainly in stored, dried goods such as grains, flours, and pasta, but they can contaminate many other items.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mycotoxins from mold are a common contaminant in up to 25% of the world's food crops, including cereals. Yes, oats can contain mold, either visibly on the surface or, more dangerously, in the form of invisible mycotoxins that can survive processing.

According to the FDA's Food Defect Levels Handbook, it is a documented fact that many processed foods contain naturally occurring defects, including bug fragments. This might come as a shock to many, but it includes the beloved pantry staple: peanut butter.