They measure between 3 and 5 mm and their hard, cylindrical body is capable of adapting perfectly to all the nooks and crannies of a cereal package. Rice weevils (Sitophilus oryzae), those little brown bugs that lay their eggs inside the grain, so they go unnoticed by visual inspection, are quite difficult to combat; which is why the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) has just published a report in which it explains which are the most effective methods to eliminate them.
“Weevils are not exclusive to rice, as they can attack any type of cereal: wheat, rye, barley, corn and, less frequently, oats,” says the OCU, adding that there are some preventive measures to avoid contamination.
“From the outset, as with any pest, it is best to prevent infestation by conditioning, cleaning and disinfecting the barns when they are empty,” they continue, adding that it is also essential to control humidity and temperature conditions during storage. of the grain, since the optimal conditions for the development of the weevil occur with a temperature between 27 and 31 ºC, and with a humidity above 40%.
If they have already attacked the cereal and you see them inside the package, the OCU recommends going to the establishment where you purchased it with the purchase receipt, explaining what happened and asking for it to be changed. If it is your fault that they appeared, just throw it in the trash.
What happens if you accidentally eat a weevil? “It is strange that it happens, since the presence of these “little bugs” is obvious,” says the OCU, adding that in case you did not realize until it was too late, “you should know that, although the existence of “These insects in food is undesirable (and clearly unpleasant), and their presence in cereal or rice makes it unfit to consume, in themselves they do not pose a health hazard.”
