Wormy chocolate: it is also found in products that have not expired
A video showing a live worm inside a packaged sweet has spread on social media. Notably, the expiration date of the product in the video has not yet passed. Can worms or other pests appear inside a package even if the product's expiration date has not expired? What causes this situation, and when does the insect get into the product? Kun.uz obtained answers to these questions from a food safety expert.
Wormy chocolate: it is also observed in products that have not expired
Expiration date is not the only guarantee of product safety
According to the expert's explanation, the fact that a product's expiration date has not yet passed does not mean it is safe under any conditions. In this regard, the temperature and humidity at which the product was stored, how it was transported, and the integrity of the packaging are of great importance.
"Specifically, the standard temperature set for chocolate products should not exceed 20 degrees, and the relative humidity should be 75–80 percent. If these specified requirements are not met, even if the airtightness of the product is not compromised, its appearance may change.
Where do the worms in the product come from?
The path of a product from the manufacturer to the consumer consists of several stages: production, packaging, transportation, storage in warehouses, and retail. A violation of sanitary rules or storage requirements at any of these stages can affect product safety.
The expert notes that even after the product is packaged, its safety can be affected by external factors. For example, during transportation, the packaging may be damaged, allowing air to enter, or the product may be stored at the wrong temperature.
"Even if the expiration date has not yet passed, if the product is stored incorrectly, transported incorrectly, or its packaging is damaged, its safety may be compromised. It is not recommended to consume a product that has undergone secondary contamination as a result of external influences."