Wait…What!?! BUGS in my FLOUR?!? I debated on sharing this, especially the picture, but I want to alert all my fellow bakers to check your flour before using it. I’ve been using organic King Arthur flour for years but yesterday, when I opened a new bag, it was crawling with bugs! I was stunned. I closed the bag up and taped it shut. I immediately called the store to ask the manager to check the other bags.Then I emailed the King Arthur company (yesterday was a holiday – the 4th) and I received an automated reply:
“Wheat, like all plants, has naturally occurring insects and other organisms present in its environment. Once the flour goes through our pest mitigation processes and leaves our milling facility, it can be difficult to determine where/when/how insects get into the flour. There are some grain insects that can chew through the bags, and even some who can work their way in through the folds of the top & bottom of the bags.”
My first thought was, ‘if they have an automated reply, how often is this happening?’ I suppose it’s always a possibility but you need to know to check your flour before routinely using it in case the bugs are not as easily visible as mine were. Mine were having a family reunion!
I wondered if organic flour might be more appealing to weevils? I also wondered if they were more common years ago and that’s why sifters were invented?? The store manager told me it does not happen often with flour but that it does happen more with dried beans. This is not to freak you out but to make you aware that this can happen. I took the picture in a hurry so it’s kind of fuzzy, but you’ll thank me for not being able to see these ugly bugs clearly.
I can’t think of anything worse than seeing bugs in your flour… except maybe ants in your pants!
Jenny, I understand your panic! I had bugs in my paprika and discovered them as I was sprinkling said paprika over a huge bowl of home made potato salad. Since that time, my paprika is always checked before using and stored in the fridge. As for flour, I had a brand new bag (with a good date on it) of all purpose King Arthur flour that was spoiled when I opened it. It had a moldy, musty smell, again my flour is now always stored in the fridge or freezer. Experience is a great teacher!
Oh No!! Thanks for the heads up.
OMG! Thank you so much for the heads up. I will always check my flour now. Love your recipes btw!
Yikes! I did have bugs in my flour once. They were not as big as yours-they were TINY, TINY moving DOTS. I actually thought I was seeing things but I had heard bugs can get into flour. I didn’t want them to escape-I just closed it…well, first I screamed, then I put it in a garbage bag, twisted it closed, tied it in a knot and put it in the outside trashcan. I’ve since learned to freeze it when I get home. I’ve heard that kills the eggs. I still check every bag I open. Sorry to hear of your terrible experience, but thanks for sharing.
Gross – do you store your flour in the refrigerator or freezer once opened??
I store white flour in sealed containers in the pantry and all whole grains in the refrigerator (or freezer for long term storage).
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