Can you still eat noodles if they have worms?

Flour is a relatively important staple food, especially in the northern region where people love to eat pasta, flour is indispensable for every household. However, when using flour, many problems often arise due to improper storage, the most common of which is flour infestation. So, if flour has bugs in it, will it affect its edibility? Below, we will give you a detailed introduction on whether flour with worms can be eaten and how to prevent flour from being infested with worms.

1. Can you still eat noodles if they have worms?

If there are only a few bugs in the flour and they are only larvae, you can still eat it after sifting it out. However, if there are a large number of adult insects in the flour, it cannot be eaten.

Two kinds of insects are easily infested in flour. One is called Red flour beetle, whose larvae are cylindrical, and the adults are reddish brown or brown, with a hard shell.

Another species is called the Indian meal moth, whose larvae are cylindrical and the adults have wings and can fly. When adult red flour beetles gather together, they will produce a secretion that is harmful to the human body. If these adult beetles appear in flour, do not eat it. The pupae of the Indian meal moth will spin silk, which can easily cause the flour to clump and deteriorate. If these adult insects appear in the flour, do not eat it.

2. How to prevent noodle bugs

To prevent pests, certain measures should be taken:

1. Good ventilation

Flour has the ability to breathe, so air must be allowed to circulate so that the flour has air to use.

2. Humidity and dryness

The moisture content of flour will change according to the temperature and humidity of the environment. The higher the humidity, the higher the moisture content of the flour and the easier it is to clump. The lower the humidity, the lower the moisture content of the flour. The ideal humidity is about 60%-70%.

3. Suitable temperature

The storage temperature will affect the maturation time of flour. The higher the temperature, the faster it matures. But temperature also shortens the shelf life of flour. The ideal storage temperature for flour is 18℃-24℃.

4. Clean environment

A clean environment can reduce the breeding of pests and the reproduction of microorganisms, thereby reducing the chance of flour being contaminated.

5. No odor

Flour is a material that absorbs and stores odors in the air, so there should be no odor in the environment where flour is stored.

6. Stay away from the wall and the ground

This is necessary to ensure good ventilation, reduce moisture, reduce pest contamination and meet legal requirements. Plastic products should be used for palletizing boards. If wooden products are used, be careful of splinters that may cause pollution.

7. First in, first out

Ensure the stability of flour and reduce flour expiration caused by human factors.

8. Clean regularly

Reduce the breeding of pests and rodents, thereby reducing the chance of flour being contaminated and packaging being damaged.