Insects in food? I bought rice that had about 100 bugs in it (found out when I got home). Is this a health iss

Question

I bought rice and when I got home and poured the rice in a pot, at least 100 bugs (LIVING) appeared. I called the health dept, and they stated that although they will fine the store, that bugs in rice is normal, if the rice is old. MY QUESTIONS: a) Do bugs in food indicate that the food is a hybrid, and thus that the food itself isn't good for humans? b) Do these bugs pose a health threat for humans (example: when the bugs excrete their waste into the food)?

Thanks

Answer 1

It' very common in rice, they look like little worms or maggots. No it's not a health concern but it is gross. Make sure you return it to the store for a refund.

Answer 2

No food packaging process is so perfect that there will not be some insect contamination. It is the nature of any nutrient that it will attract the kinds of pests that eat that kind of food.

What government standard attempt to do is NOT to assure that there are NO bugs or bug parts, but to limit how much, or how MANY bugs and bug parts reach the consumer's tables. As processes get better, and/or government standards get tighter, you will notice that "sell by" dates will appear on more and more products, even those that have extremely long shelf lives, such as dried pastas and canned foods.

The longer a product sits, the more time pests have to invade and infest the food.

Now, I wouldn't tolerate ANY living bugs in a freshly opened bag or box of rice. I can't think of any supermarket that would have any trouble taking back that product, in exchange for a fresher one. Once I get the product home, I take extra precautions to preserve the unused food in opened packages. I can add a whole bay leaf to my jars of dried pasta and rice on my counter tops. (bugs don't like the smell, or something) I can also freeze these foods, which will kill any existing bugs and prevent them from laying any more eggs. When I unpack these, and put them in my jars, a new bay leaf will prevent recontamination.

I don't buy dented canned foods and I ALWAYS check the tamper proof openings on jars and boxes. I read the "sell by" dates and watch my safe cooking techniques to preven "cross contamination."

None of this is hard to do and takes only a few seconds of shopping and food prep time.

Food is food, and, as long as we share the Earth with other organisms that eat the same foods, we will continue to consume a few "bug parts" with every breath we take and every bite we eat. We can, only, keep them down to a minimum.

Answer 3

bug larva are in all the grains we eat. Flour rice,barley & all other grains. They always have been, it is no secret it has not changed in all of time. Most of the grains are hybrids as are most of the plants you know today.

Answer 4

Take it back to the store, to the Store Manager. He/she will replace it; do Not eat this rice. It's old.