Border officials at Buffalo have refused entry from Canada to
a container from China because they found three live larvae of a khapra beetle
which is “one of the world’s most destructive pests of grains, cereals and
stored foods,” according to an Associated Press report.
So how come Canadian officials missed such a dangerous pest?
After these beetles feed on grain or grain-based products,
consumers can be sickened.
The beetles were found in an ocean container full of rain
ponchos.
It’s now up to Canadian officials to deal with the shipment
which the Americans sealed before sending it back.
One can only hope the shipment is either incinerated or sent back to China, but not via the Prairies where our grain industry would be at risk.
