Dos and don'ts to avoid a stored product insects (pantry pests)
- Check the expiry date when buying products and avoid buying products that are very close to 'best before' date.
- Buy only the Quantity that you need and be sure to use the product before expiry date.
- The insects develop a lot more during warm and humid season
- Store your food items in a cool and dry place.
- Keep the kitchen and cupboards Clean. Periodic vacuum clean all food spillages in your cupboards. Remember, crumbs and spills attract pests
- Clean storage area thoroughly with a vacuum cleaner and discard the filter and bag to avoid reinfection. Do this especially before summer .
- Clean the kitchen with soap water peridocally. cleaning does not kill the pest however it will ensure that spillage and crumbs are removed.
- Food products that has been stored for long time may have insects. Keeping them in freezer for at least a week could get rid of the insects. However please remember to freeze only fresh, good quality food - freezing will not always kill pathogens. This applies only to pulses and serials and not cooked food.
- Be sure to buy food from reputable retailers.
- Store food individually in airtight bottles , tupperware or similar lockable boxes . This will also avoid chance of insects getting from one product to other items.
- The reusable air tight bag clips for closing packets is a good alternative to airtight bottles for smaller quantity of food items.
- Consider storing food with oxygen absorbers or use vacuum packaging If it is necessary to store food items for long time .
- If it Food items need to be stored for long period, empty the stuff out from the contained , stir them , check for pests , clean the container and re-store he item back, remember that food items which are left undisturbed on the shelves for long periods are particularly susceptible to infestation.
- storing food items in refrigerator can keep it safe from pests for long time.
- Never leave food items , especially cooked food items open , cover all food items.
- Avoid buying damaged packaging - don’t buy dented tins, leaking cartons or bottles (eg, milk), ripped boxes or packets, broken or pierced seals (eg, yoghurt)
- avoid buying swollen chilled food packages and cans
- avoid buying products in loose vacuum packs (eg, bacon - the packaging should be tight around the food, with no air pocket)
some good reference sites
http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/insect-pests-of-stored-food/
