Oh pshaw, on Fri 11 Aug 2006 07:00:22p, ntantiques meant to say...

>
> Puester wrote:
>> <RJ> wrote:
>> > On Wed, 2 Aug 2006 00:32:16 -0700, "Helen Harrand"
>> > > wrote:
>> >
>> >> I went to add the container of Szeged that I had (for not too long
>> >> of a time; a month or two tops) and it was full of cobwebs..........
>> >>
>> >> EWwwwwwwwwwwwwww....makes my skin crawl. Needless to say I threw it
>> >> out and got some more.
>> >>
>> >> bleah,
>> >> helen
>> >>
>> >
>> > I had a similar experience with Hungarian Paprika;
>> > Opened the can and the contents were "moving".....
>> > ( maybe it was old ?? )
>> >
>>
>>
>> It won't happen if you store it in the freezer. All ground red pepper
>> tends to get buggy if it's stored at room temp.
>>
>> gloria p
> Just how is it that the "crawlies" get in a tightly closed metal can?
> Had the unhappy Szeged Paprika experience myself a few years back and
> have avoided the product since. I store herbs & spices in their
> original jars and cans in a cool dark cabinet - except for those I
> occasionally buy in bulk - and they go into clean mason jars. Only the
> Szeged Paprika has ever started moving on me. Can only assume that the
> critter eggs are packaged in with the product at the factory - a pretty
> unappetizing thought. Storing it in the freezer might keep the eggs
> from hatching into something even more disgusting, but they'd still be
> there.
> Nancy T
>
>

The eggs are in the product before you get it, often from the factory.
They commonly occur in certain spices/herbs, flours, meals, etc. I've only
had two outbreaks in all the years I've been maintaining a kitchen. One
was in a package of whole coriander seed, the other in a box of dry cereal.

--
Wayne Boatwright
__________________________________________________

Which way to Castle Anthrax?