In rare cases, people may have an allergic reaction to consuming flour contaminated by lice, called oral mite anaphylaxis, or pancake syndrome. A reaction usually occurs within minutes after eating the contaminated food and can cause hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the throat, nausea, weakness, and/or collapse. [9] X Research source Contact a doctor immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.
Once the mites are dead, try sifting the dry goods or removing portions you know were infested and may contain dead mites. [11] X Research source
Wipe down all the surfaces, but avoid using chemical pesticides anywhere near your food or food storage. Try cleaning with a mixture of water and vinegar (1 part vinegar to 2 parts water) or natural insect repellents and safe pesticides like neem oil or orange oil (1 part oil to 10 parts water). [14] X Research source Use a hairdryer to dry the storage area. Flour mites like damp, humid places. [15] X Research source stoke. gov. uk/food
Try keeping a fan in your pantry to cool the air and dry out any moisture.
Resealable plastic bags can work short-term, but mites can chew holes through them and get to your food. Try glass or thick plastic containers instead. The lifecycle of flour mites is about one month, so if you can keep everything clean and sealed up tight, any remaining mites should die off. Try to avoid combining old and new foods in the containers. Wait until you’ve used up all the flour in the bin, give the bin a thorough cleaning and remove any old flour stuck to the bottom, and then refill with the new flour. [17] X Research source
Make sure you inspect all packaging before bringing dry goods home. Make sure they are not damp or damaged and that they were not stored on a damp shelf. [19] X Research source
There are conflicting reports about whether to use dry or fresh bay leaves. People have reported success with both, so buy whatever is easiest for you and see how it works. [20] X Research source
