Mothballs in the pantry: is it safe to keep food there?
My roommate put some mothballs in the pantry and when I came home and saw them, I took them out.
They were probably only there for a few hours, but is it safe to store food in there? Should I throw out the food that was in there together with the mothballs? I'm leaning towards 'when in doubt throw it out' but I'm unsure whether that is overkill in this case.
Best Answer
Mothballs work by sublimating (evaporating) a toxic substance into the air. That substance, be it para-dichlorobenzene or napthalene, recondenses on whatever else is in the area around them, and makes those objects toxic to moths etc. However, the sublimation takes a long time. You can leave mothballs in a closet for months, and still not see very little weight loss in the balls themselves. That means that not much will come off in 'a few hours' to wreck your food. Tell your roommate that a pantry is not a good long term storage spot for mothballs, but eat the food with confidence. It hasn't had time to get contaminated.
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Quick Answer about "Mothballs in the pantry: is it safe to keep food there?"
Mothballs should not be used around food or food preparation areas. Mothballs are only allowed to be used in airtight containers. Gasses build up to kill insects that feed on natural fibers. Those gasses may pose a risk to people or pets if used improperly.Where should you not put mothballs in?
They shouldn't be placed in closets, storage chests, trunks, garment bags, basements, or attics. In these closed-off areas, gasses from the mothballs can accumulate at high levels, making it even more dangerous for you to come into contact with.Can you put mothballs in your cupboard?
Mothballs must be used in an airtight space, such as a garment bag or well- sealed container. Never place mothballs in an open closet or plastic garbage bag. Once vapors enter the home, their odor can persist for a long time.Can I put naphthalene balls in kitchen?
Naphthalene should not be used where food is stored, nor in places where humans are exposed to the vapors. As for stored product pest insects, once indoors, they can find their way into any area of a residence.How To Get Rid of and Prevent Pantry Moths
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Answer 2
Most things probably just fine. Some have a fairly strong odor that could be transferred to some foods. Would probably throw out bread. Would also throw out moths. Even a few hours exposure might damage them to the point where they won't have that fresh moth flavor.
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