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Are meal moths dangerous to humans?

Meal moths, also known as Indian meal moths (Plodia interpunctella), are not directly dangerous to humans, but they can be a nuisance and food contamination. Here are some reasons why flour moths can be a problem.

Meal moths lay their eggs in various dry food products such as grains, rice, flour, nuts, and dried fruits. The larvae that hatch from these eggs feed on these products and can contaminate them with their feces and silk threads, leading to spoilage of the food.

The presence of meal moths and their larvae can give food products an unpleasant odor and taste, making them unusable. In some cases, people can experience allergic reactions from inhaling the fine dust particles produced by meal moths and their larvae. This can lead to symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing, especially in people with asthma or other respiratory problems.

Although eating food infested by meal moths usually does not lead to serious health problems, it can cause gastrointestinal problems in sensitive individuals.

Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC242650/

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2023-12-12 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024

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