What are those #(*@ little bugs that mysteriously appear in tightly closed containers of rice,pasta,flour.?

Question

They aren't there when I buy the item. I can't see them when I look at the container. But when I put the pasta into the boiling water...they float to the top like little black buoy's. Same with rice, flour etc.
I have completely emptied the pantry or cupboard...cleaned and sprayed with every imaginable cleaner...and within days they're back.
Sometimes I can see them in the package before opening so I throw it away.
What are they ? Where do they come from ? Where do they hide? Are they dangerous if you eat any? How do you get rid of them? How do they get into my sealed plastic containers even after I place plastic wrap on top before screwing on the lid.? How do they get into Zip Loc bags.?
They're tiny little black bugs with a hard shell body, (like a mini-beatle). I've never actually seen one move on it's own power..in fact they appear to be dead.
What is in flour,etc. that attracts them. Or are they already there when I buy stuff..and just don't show themselves for a few weeks?

Answer 1

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) establishes defect levels for various food products and various types of insects.

For instance, the permissible level of certain insect fragments in two cups of flour is 75 parts. (This is the uppermost level at which fragments pose no health hazard in the product.)

The amount of insect fragments permitted by the FDA is not only harmless, but unavoidable to a certain degree. If weevils attack wheat in the field and breed in the kernels, they aren't always removed when the wheat is cleaned and get ground up into the product. That's unavoidable."

The alternative to permissible insect fragment levels, would be food so expensive nobody could afford it.

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Answer 2

I can only say that in my experience I often find them in flour and even rice. Once they are in those for a long enough period of time, they can migrate into other items in your dry storage. Those little mites often are eggs unseen in the mills where your food is packaged. I can't say whether or not its dangerous to consume them, very unappetizing for sure. I have been advised to put these items like flour into my fridge or freezer to eliminate this problem. If theyre into a lot more of your items, I would guess you might want to toss them and start fresh.

Answer 3

I think they are just called weavels and some are there when you buy it they just haven't hatched! Although the few times I have gotten them they do not look like what you are describing and I have never had them in my pasta.
I keep my flour in the freezer or anything else I worry about bugs getting into.

Answer 4

Ive had that happen before (but the bugs were dif. looking)..any way..I just ended up putting all that stuff in the freezer and fridge and i haven't seen a bug in them since....but I'm not sure why those bugs pop up or where they *** from....

also the bugs were gross...ur lucky u had lil black beetle lookin ones..mine were worms(disgusting right..yea i thought so too)..so yea put ur stuff in the fridge or sumthin or in the freezer n I'm sure that there will be no way for bugs to get in to the food...

Answer 5

They're weavles. I don't know how or why they get into our flour but agree they are a huge pain. I now keep my flour in the freezer in it's original packaging. It won't freeze because there's no water content and it will keep fresh in your freezer forever!

Answer 6

my mom finds those sometimes in her flour and things, but i'm pretty sure they're harmless. try using airtight containers for your dry foods or get new containers. i heard that keeping your flour and things in the freezer helps, but i don't know for sure. thats all i can do to help you at the moment, but i hoped it helped! :)

Answer 7

weevils, add a few bay leaves to the container and they never appear.

Answer 8

thise are called bol weevils. they eat through the plastic