Are infested food products still safe to eat?
Heavily infested food products should be discarded because of their decreased nutritional values and their increased risk of spoilage and food borne illness. Often it is not necessary to destroy lightly infested grain or flour products, depending upon your tolerance level. If you want to save slightly infested products, treat small quantities at a time by either heating or freezing. If heating, heat oven to 140 degrees. Put grain or flour in shallow pan and place in oven for 30 minutes. This process will destroy the grains germinating ability. (DO NOT microwave grain or flour productsmicrowaving may scorch the product or set it on fire!) If freezing, place small packages in the freezer at 0 degrees F or below for at least 4 days. Leave larger packages for at least 7 days. This process may cause excessive moisture in the product if it is defrosted in a humid room. Source of informationControlling Stored-food Pests in the Home (CIS 850)http://info.ag.uidaho.edu/catalog/catalog.
