Aussie mum makes shocking meal discovery: 'Abosolute worst feeling'

It's a situation that would unsettle anyone, especially while preparing a meal for loved ones.

Imagine being busy in the kitchen, trying to assemble a simple, reliable dish when something unexpected appears, disrupting the routine and raising concerns.

What was meant to be a quick and familiar meal suddenly takes an alarming turn.


This was the reality for one Australian mum, who shared her unnerving experience with fellow shoppers on the ALDI Mums social media group.

'When you’re a mum of 2 under two, and you have limited time for cooking, this is the absolute worst feeling,' she said.

Accompanied by photos of the contaminated meal, her story quickly garnered attention and sympathy from the online community.


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Weevils were found in ALDI pasta, shared by an Australian mum on social media. Credit: Facebook


The unwelcome dinner guests were identified by commenters as weevils, a type of beetle commonly found in pantry staples such as pasta, rice, and flour.

These critters are notorious for hitching a ride inside packaging, often as eggs that hatch once they find themselves in the cosy confines of your kitchen cupboard.

One commenter pointed out the unsettling fact that most of us have probably consumed weevil eggs at some point without realising it.


The revelation that these pests are a natural occurrence and not entirely preventable by quality control measures did little to ease the minds of those who had encountered the same issue.

'Just weevils. Very common with all dry goods (pasta, rice, flour, etc). They usually get packed in as eggs and hatch when they have better conditions, so you’ve likely eaten weevil eggs at one point or another,' one commenter pointed out.

'Weevils and other small insects are quite common in all wheat, rice and nuts. It's natural and not something quality control can control,' another echoed.

Some savvy individuals offered a practical solution to prevent future infestations: the freezer.

By placing your dry goods in the freezer for 24 hours immediately after bringing them home from the store, you can kill any eggs before they can hatch.

Alternatively, storing these items in the freezer long-term, if space permits, can also safeguard your pantry from these pesky invaders.


Another commenter recommended using super-sealed containers as an additional line of defence, sharing their battle with pantry moths originating from birdseed.

The consensus is clear—a little preemptive action can go a long way in keeping your food safe and bug-free.

At the Seniors Discount Club, we understand that such discoveries can be particularly distressing for those of us who grew up in an era when food purity was a given and pantry pests were less of a common occurrence.

It's important to remember that while these bugs are not harmful, they're certainly not appetising, and taking steps to protect your food is both practical and reassuring.

So, next time you're stocking up on pantry essentials, consider giving them a chilly reception in your freezer before they make their way to your shelves.

It's a simple step that could save you from an unpleasant surprise and ensure that you're only serving a delicious, bug-free meal.
Key Takeaways

  • An Australian mum shared her experience of finding weevils in her ALDI pasta on social media.
  • Commenters explained that weevils in dry goods like pasta, rice, and flour are quite common and usually packed as eggs, which hatch later.
  • People on the ALDI Mums social media group sympathised with the mum's situation and shared their own experiences with pests in their pantry goods.
  • Several commenters suggested putting dry goods in the freezer for 24 hours upon bringing them home or storing them there to kill any eggs and prevent infestation.
Have you ever had a similar experience with pantry pests? Do you have any tips or tricks for keeping your dry goods free of unwanted critters? Share your stories and advice in the comments below—your fellow readers could benefit from your experience!
 
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The house I am renting is infested with Silverfish, cockroaches, mice and rats. The mice and rats I give them medicine in a bait station, but there is always dead ones about. The back of fridge and freezer are cleaned weekly. The mice even ate two boxes of chalk and the boxes as well.
the Silverfish are everywhere. I was bringing my packing boxes in to go through and get rid of junk as had to change houses, but the boxes are now infested. Yes I give them the camphor treatment. My bag of documents, will and other things, has a new one hanging there each month. And that costs a lot.
What do other folk use to get rid of there Silverfish and roaches?
oh and now rabbits eating my garden. I am nit winning as I have run out of bullets and my dog is tired of rabbit.
‘All my dry food stuffs are in sealed plastic containers including soup and meal mixes, rice, pasta, anything not in a hard sealed container. Even my dog’s food is in a sealed bin to stop the mice having a feast.
 
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Used to see them regularly in flour and stuff like that when I was a child on the farm, I m still here 70 years on. They won't hurt you don't make a big deal of it, take the pack back get refunded....not actually Aldi's fault but yes something you don't require in dinner.
 
When I was a kid, our food stocks like flour, rice etc were often found to have weevils etc. Also, nut chocolate was very often ruined with weevils. Clearly these issues were expected and susceptible items stored in sealed canisters and jars to help protect them from weevils. Today’s products are probably more protected via preservative chemicals - but how safe are some of these chemicals? All in all, not a huge drama. Just return the item to the shop. I am sure the shop owner will be grateful for the chance to remove affected items from their shelves.
 
The house I am renting is infested with Silverfish, cockroaches, mice and rats. The mice and rats I give them medicine in a bait station, but there is always dead ones about. The back of fridge and freezer are cleaned weekly. The mice even ate two boxes of chalk and the boxes as well.
the Silverfish are everywhere. I was bringing my packing boxes in to go through and get rid of junk as had to change houses, but the boxes are now infested. Yes I give them the camphor treatment. My bag of documents, will and other things, has a new one hanging there each month. And that costs a lot.
What do other folk use to get rid of there Silverfish and roaches?
oh and now rabbits eating my garden. I am nit winning as I have run out of bullets and my dog is tired of rabbit.
‘All my dry food stuffs are in sealed plastic containers including soup and meal mixes, rice, pasta, anything not in a hard sealed container. Even my dog’s food is in a sealed bin to stop the mice having a feast.
When we used to go from home to home, downsize to 2 rooms while we built, moved..moved and moved.
I learned the wisdom of ditching cardboard packing boxes of any kind. The best decision I made was to invest in discount shop plastic storage boxes, preferably with wheels, clip on lids and a good enough size to store decent volumes of stuff, then they stacked on top of each other. When we moved, it was just a case of the plastic boxes in one swoop, followed by the usual clothes, small amount of linen, and kitchen contents. Every move became easier, and we didn't need to worry about paying for storage. With each unpack or opening, we were spared from critters setting up house, and as happens on occasion, no water spoilage.
 
When I was a kid, our food stocks like flour, rice etc were often found to have weevils etc. Also, nut chocolate was very often ruined with weevils. Clearly these issues were expected and susceptible items stored in sealed canisters and jars to help protect them from weevils. Today’s products are probably more protected via preservative chemicals - but how safe are some of these chemicals? All in all, not a huge drama. Just return the item to the shop. I am sure the shop owner will be grateful for the chance to remove affected items from their shelves.
l remember taking a bite out of a Toblerone bar and seeing maggots that must have been in the nuts beforehand. Never touched a Toblerone since
 
When I was a kid, our food stocks like flour, rice etc were often found to have weevils etc. Also, nut chocolate was very often ruined with weevils. Clearly these issues were expected and susceptible items stored in sealed canisters and jars to help protect them from weevils. Today’s products are probably more protected via preservative chemicals - but how safe are some of these chemicals? All in all, not a huge drama. Just return the item to the shop. I am sure the shop owner will be grateful for the chance to remove affected items from their shelves.
Good idea, that`s what I was thinking. The products with weevils have not been contaminated with pesticides. So it`s not all bad.
 
When I was a kid, our food stocks like flour, rice etc were often found to have weevils etc. Also, nut chocolate was very often ruined with weevils. Clearly these issues were expected and susceptible items stored in sealed canisters and jars to help protect them from weevils. Today’s products are probably more protected via preservative chemicals - but how safe are some of these chemicals? All in all, not a huge drama. Just return the item to the shop. I am sure the shop owner will be grateful for the chance to remove affected items from their shelves.
I store my rice, pasta and flour in sealed stainless steel containers stored in a lead lined cryogenic chamber 200 metres under the streets of Applecross in Perth.

No weevils or cockroaches down there! :p
That sounded just like my dad speaking! He was a very taciturn, ascerbic individual whom I loved with a passion. This comment was him to a T. Thankyou veggiepatch, you’ve made my day❤️❤️😁😁
 

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