Jump to content

  • Quick Navigation
Photo

Is microwave safe and effective for destroying weevils in flour?

Share this

  • You cannot start a new topic
  • Please log in to reply
4 replies to this topic

Omega Lim

    Grade - Active

  • IFSQN Active
  • 14 posts
  • 9 thanks
2
Neutral

  • Earth
    Earth

Posted 14 May 2019 - 02:44 AM

Hi,

 

Is microwave can get rid of weevil in flour?

Is microwave safe for health?



JohannesTrithemius

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 32 posts
  • 8 thanks
6
Neutral

  • Canada
    Canada

Posted 14 May 2019 - 09:36 AM

I'd probably look into getting pest control, and finding the source of the bugs, and eliminating them from the source. According to google, they can apparently lay their eggs in the flour. Talk to a pest control expert.



zanorias

    Grade - PIFSQN

  • IFSQN Principal
  • 811 posts
  • 245 thanks
167
Excellent

  • Wales
    Wales
  • Gender:Male
  • Location:UK
  • Interests:Motorcycling, Food Safety, Science, Paddleboarding, Space

Posted 14 May 2019 - 12:21 PM

What is the context here? Are we talking about personal use i.e. you've found weevils in a bag of flour at home? Or are weevils present in your manufacturing process?

 

If the latter, definitely contact your pest contractor immediately.

 

Sources seem to suggest that microwaving (note not necessarily domestic microwaves) can kill weevils:

 

This work confirms that microwave heating is a promising, eco-compatible solution to fight the spread of weevil.

https://www.nature.c...icles/srep45299

 

you want to use the microwave, spread the stuff on a glass dish or plate, and run it for 5 minutes.

https://getridofthin...rid-of-weevils/

 

The samples were then exposed to microwave energy

at four different power levels 200, 300, 400, and 500 W for two exposure times of 28

and 56 s. Complete (100%) mortality was achieved for adults of all three insect species

at 500 W for an exposure time of 28 s and at 400 W for an exposure time of 56 s in

barley and wheat.

https://mspace.lib.u...tion?sequence=1

 

As far as I know, microwaves (when used as intended per manufacturer's instruction) are safe to health, thought I am no expert by any means in that area.

 

I'm quite concerned though by the prospect of dead bugs in flour/food. Depending on the species I believe some can be several mm in size.

 

Please provide more information to clarify the situation.



Setanta

    Grade - FIFSQN

  • IFSQN Fellow
  • 1,607 posts
  • 370 thanks
388
Excellent

  • United States
    United States
  • Gender:Female
  • Interests:Reading: historical fiction, fantasy, Sci-Fi
    Movies
    Gardening
    Birding

Posted 14 May 2019 - 12:24 PM

More information is definitely needed. Even if it kills weevils, you then have dead weevils in your flour.


-Setanta         

 

 

 


SunilDogra

    Grade - AIFSQN

  • IFSQN Associate
  • 41 posts
  • 2 thanks
2
Neutral

  • Earth
    Earth
  • Gender:Male

Posted 15 May 2019 - 06:27 AM

Hi,

Microwave radiation, with good penetrability, can kill pests existing inside or outside grain kernels. This point brings the research initiatives especially on microwave (MW) heating for their potential use for disinfestation of stored food grains.





Share this

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users