Infestation of Chocolate‐based Products: Insects Responsible and Origins of Contamination

In response to on‐going consumer complaints regarding insect infestation of chocolate‐based products manufactured at a factory in southern Australia, research was undertaken to determine the insects responsible for infestation and locate the points along the manufacture/distribution network where insect pests were most likely to be entering the produce. Phycitine moths were responsible for almost all cases of product infestation, with most infestation occurring after goods had been packaged. Methods of identifying storage environments suspected of unknowingly harbouring phycitine populations or of regularly handling infested goods are discussed. the detrimental consequences for the manufacturer, and for the processed food industry in general, of the presence of stored product insects in wholesale and retail outlets are also considered.