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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Parlier, California » San Joaquin Valley Agricultural Sciences Center » Commodity Protection and Quality Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #339188
Research Project: Integrate Pre- and Postharvest Approaches to Enhance Fresh Fruit Quality and Control Postharvest Diseases

Location: Commodity Protection and Quality Research

Title: Health hazards associated with arthropod infestation of stored products

Author
item HUBERT, JAN - Crop Research Institute - Czech Republic
item STEJSKAL, VACLAV - Crop Research Institute - Czech Republic
item ATHANASSIOU, CHRISTOS - University Of Thessaly
item Throne, James

Submitted to: Annual Review of Entomology
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2017
Publication Date: 1/12/2018
Citation: Hubert, J., Stejskal, V., Athanassiou, C.G., Throne, J.E. 2018. Health hazards associated with arthropod infestation of stored products. Annual Review Of Entomology. 63: 553-573.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Insects and mites are common inhabitants and accidental invaders of food, including durable commodities, and their presence can have both direct and indirect effects on human health. The most common direct effect is contamination of food with arthropod fragments and related contaminants, which may be allergenic or even carcinogenic. The most important indirect effect is that their presence can change the storage microenvironment, making durable products suitable for rapid development of fungi and other microrganisms. Some of these fungi can produce toxins (e.g., aflatoxins) that endanger human health. Insects may actively or passively contribute to spread of microorganisms, increasing product contamination, and they may host bacteria that have developed antibiotic resistance, contributing to their spread in food. Several species also may host, attract, or transmit tapeworms, predators, or parasitoids that may affect health. This review synthesizes research on these topics and suggests directions for future research.