Ingesting Ants After Boiling

[syd barrett]

Due to recent wet weather I have been over-run with small ants in my apartment.

Many of the ants have invaded my out-of-fridge food, such as rice, gravy granules, pulses etc. etc.

If I boil the above said foodstuffs, ants included, then ingest the cooked ants with the foodstuffs is this harmful?

Thanks for any advice.

I don't want to dispose then waste any of the above said foodstuffs, and it is impossible to rid the ants from the food.

[kennkate]

just asked the wife and she is the Bug Queen

She said no worry you no die. Moot Ok

[Texpat]

I know an old lady who swallowed a fly.

I don't know why she swallowed the fly.

I guess she'll die.

[canuckamuck]

Many people here eat ants on purpose. I have had my share by the same method you are proposing, there is no problem at all.

[Jingthing]

They sound like excellent sausage filler.

[GOWER]

my friends eat them but there again they eat anything

here some picts

[Scott]

I don't have a problem with ants too frequently, but I do get some other type of little bug that invades rice, flour, pasta etc. I usually cook the food and use a small strainer to pick them out--it's pretty easy, but it takes some time for them to all float to the top. If they are in the food when I am done, I just eat them. Never had a problem.

I try to keep as much stuff as possible in the refrigerator to avoid these 'invasions.'

[mahtin]

I know an old lady who swallowed a fly.

I don't know why she swallowed the fly.

I guess she'll die.

I thought Syd Barrett was already dead

[phaethon]

My apartment block is relatively new and has little resident wildlife, but these little ants regularly came storming through the balcony door. Until that is, my new best friend - JJ - moved into the balcony:

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

all protein no fat, should be good for you. Try them dipped in chocolate.

[syd barrett]

I don't have a problem with ants too frequently, but I do get some other type of little bug that invades rice, flour, pasta etc. I usually cook the food and use a small strainer to pick them out--it's pretty easy, but it takes some time for them to all float to the top. If they are in the food when I am done, I just eat them. Never had a problem.

I try to keep as much stuff as possible in the refrigerator to avoid these 'invasions.'

Thanks the good idea. I'll get a strainer and filter out the dead ants.

I didn't think they would do me any harm after boiling, but was worried about their 'sting' poison which might have remained even after boiling.

[Tywais]

I didn't think they would do me any harm after boiling, but was worried about their 'sting' poison which might have remained even after boiling.

It's not actually a poison but formic acid and not all ant species have it. Also, the quantity would be extremely small to be an issue.

"Formic acid is readily metabolized and eliminated by the body" Source: Wiki

[phaethon]

"Formic acid is readily metabolized and eliminated by the body" Source: Wiki

Might give you an irrational desire to play the banjolele... No. sorry, that's Formby Acid.

[paal349]

Had a glass of orange juice while sitting at my computer at night. An hour or so later I went for a refill and drank it right down. My thoughts were, "I do not remember buying the one with pulp?". Turning on some lights, and I just swallowed about 30 of the buggars. "Protein" I tell myself ;-)

[billzant]

Dear Sid,

If you can try putting the rice in direct sunlight in the heat of the day the ants leave of their own accord. Same wth sugar, if they get into the sugar put out the sugar bowl.

Hope you are keeping well,

All the Best,

BillZ

[BEENTHEREDONETHAT]

Tried to nuke them didn't phase them. They don't survive long in the freezer compartment.

[junkofdavid2]

all protein no fat, should be good for you. Try them dipped in chocolate.

When I was a kid, I found my box of chocolates besieged by crawling ants, inside the chocolate pieces and out.

Since I obviously couldn't spray the chocolates with insecticide, I froze the box of chocolates with ants and all... and the ants disappeared! Possibly ALL went INSIDE the chocolates to seek shelter, only to be later frozen within the frozen chocolate itself.

Tasted great, and I'm still alive today.

[Moonrakers]

Boiled ants are not a problem.

What's worse is putting something in your mouth, without you realising that it is covered in loads of those living little red buggers............... Ouch.

[syd barrett]

Dear Sid,

If you can try putting the rice in direct sunlight in the heat of the day the ants leave of their own accord. Same wth sugar, if they get into the sugar put out the sugar bowl.

Hope you are keeping well,

All the Best,

BillZ

Thanks, that is a really good tip!

Cheers.

SB