Experimental and Applied Acarology (2001) 25, 203-215

B.B. Thind and P.G. Clarke (2001)
The occurrence of mites in cereal-based foods destined for human consumption and possible consequences of infestation
Experimental and Applied Acarology 25 (3), 203-215
Abstract: Seven categories of cereal-based food products purchased at food retail outlets in UK were examined for the presence of mites by analysing 20 g samples using a flotation method. Mites were found in 21% of 571 samples, which were examined soon after purchase, and in 38% of 421 samples, derived from the 571 samples which were examined after 6 weeks of storage in volunteers' homes. Most of the samples where mites were detected had fewer than five mites. However, a few samples contained more than 20 mites with a maximum of 428 mites detected in a single sample. Sixteen families, genera or species of mites were recovered. The most common species were Acarus siro, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, Lepidoglyphus destructor and Glycyphagus domesticus. The level of contamination was broadly similar for each of the seven categories of products examined. It is likely that infestation occurs at every stage of food processing and storage. This is the first study of its kind and there is no reason to believe that results from similar studies carried out in other temperate countries would be markedly different. Increase in the percentage of contaminated samples following storage in a domestic situation suggests that the domestic environment is an important factor in developing infestation. The implications of mite contamination on food quality and on human health are briefly discussed.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): B.B. Thind

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
surveys/sampling/distribution
damage/losses/economics

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Tyrophagus putrescentiae	Various food items in houses	United Kingdom
	Acarus siro	Various food items in houses	United Kingdom
	Lepidoglyphus destructor	Various food items in houses	United Kingdom
	Glycyphagus domesticus	Various food items in houses	United Kingdom