Things You’re Buying That Are Accidentally Inviting Bugs

Your weekly grocery run could bring home more than food. A lot of typical items around the house (and even the food!) provide a perfect home for uninvited guests that you can (and cannot) see. These bugs may just make your cozy home a bug magnet, leaving you with the kind of irritating infestations that seem to materialize out of thin air.

It gets even worse when those foods get stored improperly, or you buy ones that naturally attract bugs. Data indicates that 84% of American homes have experienced pest problems in the past year, and many start with contaminated or appealing grocery items. From sugary treats that attract ants to moist products that entice cockroaches, your purchasing decisions straight up affect the pest situation in your home.

Knowing which products are dangerous helps you make more informed purchasing decisions. This website will also help you find the best pest control service in your area, so that you can always be a step forward. 

Which Grocery Items May Accidentally Invite Bugs?

Fruits and Vegetables

Wash fruits and vegetables with soap and water. And no matter what, do not buy overripe fruit, because it will attract flies. Overripe fruit releases gases that draw fruit flies from quite a distance, surprisingly. Bananas, apples, and stone fruits go from not-ripe to ripe to too-ripe faster than you can say “fruit fly,” and that will attract the little guys more than anything.

Root vegetables such as potatoes or onions can hold insects or their eggs from the field. Poor storage in hot, damp places speeds the gestation of the pests. Even pre-washed salads and vegetables can harbor insects hidden from view until you bring them home.

Grains and Cereals

Cereal, whole grain, and flour products often harbor eggs of pantry moths or larvae of beetles. These little monsters can be dormant until the perfect conditions in your home activate them. These stubborn bugs make little impression on paper packaging.

Rice, quinoa, large grains, and other bulk grains pose similar issues. Other grain beetles and weevils can contaminate entire pantries as these bugs come from storage areas and during shipment.

Sweet and Sugary Products

Sugar is the No. 1 pest magnet in your home. Ants have the ability to pick up on sugar from great distances and will lay down trails to open containers. Honey, maple syrup, and granulated sugar require airtight containment right after the seal has broken. These stubborn insects are drawn to any even small spills or sticky residue on your containers.

Processed sweet products like cookies, confections, and cake mixes are also highly problematic. The package sometimes has little rips and tears where insects can gain access. And once inside, bugs can proliferate in these nutrition-rich environments with alarming speed.

What Can You Do About It?

Items cannot be avoided, but you can definitely take precautions. 

1. Smart Shopping Habits

Check all packaging before placing items in your cart. Inspect seams and corners for any tears, holes, or insect activity. Stay away from marked packaging that is discounted, because pocket change differences will not outweigh potential pest issues.

Pick well-known shops where there is a good enough turnover of the product and where it has been properly stored. New stock results in less time for pests to take hold in products. And shop for perishables last and get them into the refrigerator fast once you’re home.

2. Proper Storage Solutions

In addition, just putting susceptible items into air-tight containers upon arrival home can thwart most pest problems before they ever start. The glass jar, the sealed plastic container, and the vacuum-sealed bag are all barriers that insects cannot overcome. Date the storage containers so that you know what to use first, and make sure to rotate the stock.

For ingredients like flour, nuts, and dried fruits, refrigeration is key. Detail Cold temperatures delay or arrest insect development and also preserve product quality. This is especially useful in bulk purchases that may potentially sit in storage for significant periods of time.