Many foods are susceptible to insect attack, such as flour, cereals, pasta, dried fruit and nuts. Infestation can be passed from one foodstuff to another and this process can be further accelerated by weather conditions such as high temperatures and humidity.

Doing the following can reduce the risk of infestation:

• Store products in dry areas away from light.
• Once opened, store products in airtight containers.
• Storing in the refrigerator or under cool conditions will reduce infestation.
• Temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius will promote insect activity.
• Avoid storing near dried fruits, whole grains, and dried pet food.
• Store near canned food or bottled goods.

If your food has become infested you should remove and destroy infested foodstuffs to prevent the spread of insects. Small quantities of infested materials can be conveniently held in plastic bags in the refrigerator for about 24 hours to kill the insects and then be disposed of. Check thatthe infestation has not spread to other packages stored near the infected foods, and then clean the storage area thoroughly.