Getting to know “Bukbok”

WEEVILS COMMON TO GRAINS

AS BLACK ANTS ARE TO FRUITS

By Manny Piñol

There should be no excuses offered for the presence of Weevils or “Bukbok” in the rice shipment of the National Food Authority (NFA).

The infestation by the “Bukbok” in the imported rice stocks could only have resulted from gross negligence which means losses to government.

I believe that the unloading of the rice stocks was delayed and there was no sufficient fumigation to make sure that pests like Weevils and even rats are driven away from the cargo hold of the vessel.

There is, however, a need to educate people on what Weevils really are and whether it is safe to eat rice infested with “Bukbok.”

Every farmer will tell you that “Bukbok” is as much a part of the grains industry as Black Ants are to sweet fruits.

(In our dialect, “Bukbok” is called “Hukaw.”)

The presence of the “Bukbok” in rice, while it may result in the deterioration of quality, is actually the best proof that the rice has not been sprayed with chemicals.

Black Ants in fruits, on the other hand, indicate that the fruits are very sweet and that no chemical spraying was done prior to harvest.

Here is an item accessible on the web which explains what Weevils or “Bukbok” are:

“Weevils are small beetles that feed on plants, especially grains. Their larvae are often found in packaged food, such as flour, cornmeal and cereals, and can appear in dog food. These young weevils don’t make their way into sealed packages; they are already in the food as eggs.

“Weevils, whether in larval or adult stage, are not harmful to humans or animals. Although it may seem unsavory to you, they can be eaten along with any food they have infested without causing any ill effects.

“The biggest problem weevils pose is to food producers, who sometimes have to take action to keep them out of crops and processes.

“In some cases, weevils benefit humans by serving as test subjects to determine whether residue from pesticides remain in harvested grains. If weevils eat the grains and die, observers know pesticides are present.”

So, there you are. All that needs to be done is to fumigate the NFA rice stocks infested with “Bukbok” at least twice.

The first fumigation would drive away the parent Weevils while the second fumigation will take care of the newly-hatched young weevils.

There is really no need to declare the whole shipment as unfit for human consumption neither should the issue merit a banner story in a national daily newspaper.

It was clearly a case of negligence but definitely not an intentional act.

(Photo downloaded from the pinsta.com website.)