Inspect groceries before bringing them into the pantry

What to Do

Before shelving new groceries, check packaging for small holes, tears, webbing, or tiny insects. Look at the seams and folds of cardboard boxes and along the sealed edges of bags. Reject or return items with signs of infestation.

Why It Works

Many pantry infestations start with a single contaminated product from the store. A quick 10-second inspection catches problems before they spread to your existing food supply. Bulk-bin items and products from warehouses with slow turnover are highest risk.

Tips

• Check the "best by" date — older stock has had more time to become infested
• Paper and cardboard packaging is easily penetrated by larvae; transfer to airtight containers immediately
• If a store consistently has moth problems in the grain aisle, shop elsewhere