Step 1: Empty and Inspect the Pantry
Remove the food from your pantry or cabinets and inspect dry goods individually.
Pay particular attention to:
Rice and flour
Cereal and pasta
Nuts and seeds
Dried fruit
Baking ingredients
Pet food and birdseed
Check both opened and unopened packages. Look for webbing, larvae, damaged packaging, or other unusual signs.
Step 2: Discard Infested Food
If food clearly contains larvae, webbing, or other signs of infestation, place it in a sealed garbage bag and remove it from the home.
Avoid keeping questionable food simply because the package looks mostly intact. When you’re unsure whether a product has been contaminated, replacing it is the safer option.
Step 3: Clean the Pantry Thoroughly
After removing the food:
Vacuum shelves, corners, cracks, hinges, and cabinet seams.
Empty the vacuum afterward so insects cannot remain inside.
Wash surfaces with warm, soapy water.
Allow everything to dry completely before putting food back.
