How Can Vermin be Prevented from Attacking Victuals?
Around the world and across myriad palettes rice stands out as a meal staple. Onboard Catering Management will invariably have this hardy wheat in ready supply. When considering health, hygiene and healthy eating on ships, there are factors to consider that may not seems readily evident. Spending extended periods at sea, ship-catering services must take into account the shelf life of foods in the galley when preparing menu plans for crews. Along with determining how long a particular item may be safely stowed, ship victualling management must evaluate the availability of and adherence to proper storage requirements for different foods. For our purposes here, we will look at the proper storage of rice. Easily the most common error in raw rice storage is assuming that simply storing the ubiquitous grain in a dry place will prevent insect infestation. Wrong.
Rice is particularly susceptible to weevils—also known as wheat/granary weevils (Sitophilus granarius). This particular vermin will chew through plastic or paper packaging to successfully find a home in the ship’s hold.
It is important to note that a single female has the potential to destroy the entire cargo of rice, if the problem is not handled swiftly and efficiently. Ideally, prevention is far better than cure.
The female weevil will lay up to 250 eggs, depositing one egg inside a single rice grain. Each egg takes between one to five months (depending on the season) to hatch, with the larva living inside and feeding on the kernel as it grows. Once matured, the weevil emerges from hiding to mate, and seeks new grains to invade.
To prevent infestation ship staff should hold rice in dry refrigerated storage. Rice requires specific temperature, humidity/moisture and ventilation conditions –Favorable travel temperature range: 5 - 25°Celsius.
Maritime catering crews must be vigilant in receiving goods, to ensure they do not receive previously infested cargo, that could compromise their galley and undermine the integrity of the entire shipment. During loading, pay close attention to inspecting the cargo for rice weevils, which are recognizable from four red spots on their wing cases.Note: Rice is particularly likely to be infested if it is stored for more than two months.
If previous infestation has occurred: Rice is particularly sensitive to dirt and oil contamination.
“Especially after the previous carriage of contaminating, odor-tainting or pest-infested cargoes, fitness for loading must be carefully re-established by cleaning, possibly disinfection, deodorization or ventilation.”
