AboutCarol Schlitt Expertise I can answer questions on home food safety, sanitation, home food preservation and commercial food safety (HACCP).
Experience I am an Extension educator, nutrition, wellness and food safety. I am a certified HACCP manager and a food safety instructor for the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Organizations International Association for Food Protection, American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences (Certified CFCS), National Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences, Society for Nutrition Education.
Education/Credentials BS - University of Illinois
MS - Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville
Question I have a large container of protein powder/meal replacement powder that I purchased several months ago. I have only used maybe one tenth of the container so far (a spoonful each day). This morning when I spooned up a heap to add to my oatmeal, I found a small (1 cm) tan-colored worm-shaped bug! It was dried up and dead. I am wondering...do I need to throw out the whole container, now? Is there harmful larvae it may have left behind? I'd hate to waste all the powder, but I value my health as well.
Answer Hi Christine,
While it's not exactly appetizing, dead worm larvae are not harmful to eat and even add additional protein to your powder! In other cultures worms are eaten as a protein source.
Food when manufactured is not sterile and powders, cereals, etc are prime foods for bugs and worms to be present. So many parts per million of bugs/worms are allowed in our food. Undoubtedly, your protein powder contained this very small worm larvae that was able to pass through the grinding and powderizing stages.
Is it harmful -- no. Is it unappetizing - yes. It's your choice as so whether it's so unappetizing that you want to throw out the whole canister of powder.
In the future, you might want to store the powder in the freezer as this slows down the growth of bugs. This is a good idea for all flour products.
If I can be of further assistance, please let me know.
