Stored product insects or pantry pests

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.foodsmart.govt.nz/information-for/pregnant-women/food-safety-guidelines.htm

http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/insects/find/insect-pests-of-stored-food/