Tag: Pest control

While many home cooks simply discard spoiled oil, rancid olive oil can be used for a surprising number of non-culinary purposes. The oil's core properties remain useful even after its delicate flavor and healthful compounds have degraded due to exposure to light, heat, and air. Instead of contributing to waste, you can repurpose it in practical ways around your home and garden.

The bay laurel tree, whose leaves have crowned champions since ancient times, offers a subtle yet essential depth of flavor to countless dishes and surprising utility throughout the home.

According to the National Turkey Federation, over 210 million turkeys were raised on US farms in 2022, highlighting the bird's widespread popularity and utility. The benefits of having a turkey extend far beyond the dinner table, encompassing nutritional advantages, sustainable farming practices, and even pest management.

For decades, people have believed that taking a specific vitamin, particularly vitamin B1 (thiamine), can repel mosquitoes and other biting insects. However, controlled scientific studies have found no evidence that any oral supplement, including those with B vitamins, is effective as a systemic insect repellent.

According to sleep experts, associating your bed with activities like eating can disrupt your sleep efficiency over time. Eating in your room can lead to several unpleasant consequences, impacting your space, health, and well-being.

According to the World Health Organization, there were an estimated 249 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2022, a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. Given the health risks, many seek natural prevention methods, but does taking B12 prevent mosquito bites? The simple answer is no, despite decades of anecdotal claims.

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), many insect species are nutritious alternatives to conventional protein sources, but consuming cockroaches you find in your home is extremely risky. Are cockroaches unhealthy to eat? Yes, if they are common pests, due to the pathogens and toxins they carry, which are very different from commercially-farmed insects.

According to the World Health Organization, unsafe food is responsible for hundreds of millions of cases of foodborne diseases annually, highlighting the critical role of robust food safety systems. A solid foundation for any such system lies in addressing the question, "What are prerequisite programs for food safety?". These are the basic operational and environmental conditions that must be in place before a more advanced plan, like HACCP, can be effective.

According to a 2022 review of over 100 studies, oral thiamine (vitamin B1) cannot repel insects at any dosage or route of administration. This definitively debunks the persistent myth that vitamin B1 keeps bugs away by altering a person's body odor.

According to the USDA, an estimated 10-30% of apple harvests can be lost due to insect pests, making it critical for both home gardeners and consumers to know how to make sure there are no bugs in apples. From careful inspection to post-harvest cleaning and storage methods, securing a bug-free fruit is achievable for everyone.