Wholemeal Flour is ALIVE!!!

[echokilo]

I have just taken a kilner jar of wholemeal flour down from the kitchen cupboard (it's been there for about 3/4 months) and just as I was about to start weighin it out, I notice the surface was ALIVE with little things!!! About the size of a flea (I guess) and literally swarming over the surface!!!! Yeugh!!! What are they and how did they get into the sealed jar?? Am repulsed!!

[boxtops]

You've kept it too long, echokilo - things will always hatch in flour - floury flies and weevils. Happens to all of us if you keep it too long after opening.

[RATTER15]

These things http://www.google.co....b=wi&biw=1659&bih=892

[echokilo]

OMG - gross!! Yes, that's them!!! I always keep the use by date from the bpcket and put it on the back of the jad- and it's got until the end of May alledgedly!! Do you need to tell me the eggs of these things are in all flour I buy - so hatched or not, I am eating them!!!!!??

[factor-fiction]

Yes, weevils. Get rid of the bag immediately and make sure you clear up any flour spills thoroughly.
Or just use the flour. Cooking will kill the weevils and they won't harm you.

[boxtops]

Yes, they're there lying low when you buy it, normally they are rendered harmless by baking.
Factor, I don't think I could eat them after I'd seen them in the jar...

[mrs_overall]

They are an additional source of protein I guess....

[pastafreak]

This is good ...for future reference....... http://www.wikihow.co...-Weevils-(Flour-Bugs)

I've got 2 huge kilner jars of old flour that I have to empty....I'm not looking forward to it ;-(

[RATTER15]

as long as you are not veggie you will be fine, they can get caught between your teeth I find, just floss well!

[echokilo]

Eat them!!!! Yeug!!! No chance - they are being filed under B for bin - right now!!!

[Arti]

A lot of things we buy have got 'creepies' in them. Cheese has cheese mites: When you've had cheese for a while and it gets a white, powdery coating, I'm sorry to tell you, but that is cheese mite faeces. There are also vinegar mites. If you could magnify it enough, you would see them swimming around.

[yelenots]

Yuk! I'm off now to check my flour as I've had it in the cupboard for months too!

[boxtops]

that's a useful site, pasta

[mrs_overall]

Thanks for that info Arti - I now feel sick

[factor-fiction]

Could they have already bee in the jar from a previous bach of flour.
Make sure you clean out the jar thoroughly.

[Arti]

Sorry, Mrs O. Don't worry, though, because lots of cheeses have mites introduced to them, on purpose, to enrich the flavour ;)

[ttfn]

Self raising flour was it?

[yelenots]

Talking of bugs......just found a huge tick on my little dog :( No weevils in my flour though!

[factor-fiction]

Sorry, my keyboard is missing out letters today.
Flour is the usual home but I had something that I think were also weevils in rice once

[ttfn]

Sorry about the dog yelenots, but that last part has made me smile. As euphemisms go - I rate that highly ;o)

[pastafreak]

I think buggies like most grains...so,yes-they'd like rice also.

This is making my head itch...argghh