11 January 2024 , 13:27
1036
0
If I knew you were coming I'd have baked a cake. Actually, maybe not...
As freezing temperatuers and threats of snow continue to grip the UK, many Brits are opting to spend the start of 2024 indoors. If lockdown taught us anything, it's that the desire to try to make our own banana bread or birthday cake grows strong in these situations.
Whilst many find baking as a relaxing, almost therapeutic, way to pass the time and keep the little ones occupied for a few hours - one woman has sworn off the hobby for good. It all started after discovering something rather grim in her flour.
Dr Niamh is an Irish paediatrician who posts regularly on TikTok. While her videos tend to cover health topics such as how pinworms spread and emetophobia, one of her videos went viral for all the wrong reasons.
The doctor explains that when she was getting ready to do some festive baking, she noticed something unusual in her plain flour. Despite being kept in an air-tight container - the common baking ingredient was covered in 'brown flecks'. To her horror, she realised the filaments were moving.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
"What the hell are these?" she said. "What is going on? I'm never baking again, obviously. This is an airtight container. How did these things get in here?"
Viewers rushed to the comments section to inform Dr Niamh the specks were either flour mites or weevils - insects that are often found in foods such as flour, cereal, rice, and pasta. While flour mites are almost invisible due to their tiny size, weevils are much easier to spot and have a 'darker body'.
Want to avoid the doom and gloom? Get the latest positive news sent straight to your inbox with our Bright Stuff newsletter
The little bugs come into the kitchen through flour and wheat products. If you've stored your flour for a long time, the insects may lay eggs and quickly cause an infestation to grow. Heat can also help weevils reproduce at a quicker rate - meaning your kitchen could be creating the perfect environment for them.
According to Pest Defence, neither of the bugs can bite, sting or poison humans so aren't dangerous to touch. However, flour mites in particular can 'spread fungal spores and cause mould' which could cause humans to get sick.
"It is also possible to be allergic to mites, which can make the skin itch and, in very rare cases, cause swelling of the throat and difficulty breathing if consumed," the experts state. "In this case, call a doctor immediately for medical attention."
If you spot mites and weevils in your kitchen, it is advised to get rid of the products and thoroughly clean the cupboards and containers. Many viewers also recommended keeping flour in the freezer to prevent egg hatching.