stub page for how to deal with moths

stuff to include:

identifying

Moth eggs look like white, webby stuff, often stuck to the side of a bin.
Larvae are caterpillars
The moths themselves are ~2-10mm and are often light brown in color.
Note that the larvae can bore through plastic bags.

how to record, report & deal with infested food

  1. If it's an old type scoop bin or one that will fit in a garbage bag, immediately seal the bin in the bag, close it tightly and take it outside. Same thing with infested overstock.
  2. With the bin outside and the door closed, empty the contents into a heavy duty garbage bag & knot tightly. Check the bag for holes.
  3. Weigh the sealed bag, then take it right back outside.
  4. Use the "email working groups" Web form to report the infestation to Dry Goods. In your email, include:
    date
    item name, variety, including supplier if known
    weight
    description of infestation-- larvae? eggs? moths? severe? light?
    your name & date
  5. Dispose of food. You can take it home, give it away or leave it in a dumpster for freegans, but do not take it back into the store.
  6. Check neighboring bins and overstock of infested item. Repeat above steps as needed.
  7. If they were in a bin, carefully clean the bin - I saw tiny moth eggs and larvae clinging to the sides inside of the two scoop bins we emptied, when I was there. It's safest to do that outside using paper towels rather than sponges that will be brought back in. I would not recommend disposing of the paper towels in the store.
  8. If you want to give the goods away, make sure it's prominently marked on the bag not to bring it back inside. At least once it's happened that a moth-infested bag left outside was brought back in with other free items. how to report to dry goods
  9. Inspect for infestation all the bins and overstock in the store, especially the ones adjacent to the ones found infested.

other stuff?

Topic revision: r4 - 05 Sep 2011 - 23:29:22 - DanB
 

Tags:
create new tag

This site is powered by the TWiki collaboration platformCopyright © 1999-2012 by the contributing authors. All material on this collaboration platform is the property of the contributing authors.
Ideas, requests, problems regarding 4thStreetFoodCoopTWiki? Send feedback (Remove no spam part from address.)