Article contents
CONTAMINATION OF MUSTARD AND CANOLA SEED BY FRASS OF PAINTED LADY CATERPILLARS, VANESSA CARDUI (LEPIDOPTERA: NYMPHALIDAE)
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 31 May 2012
Extract
A substantial amount of the mustard and a small amount of the canola seed produced in the prairie provinces in 1983 was downgraded due to excessive content of insect frass. Because the frass was similar in size to the seed, much of it was not removed by the usual cleaning processes. Most seriously affected was mustard seed which has a contamination limit of 1 frass pellet per 500 g for grade Nos. 1, 2 and 3 Canada and 0.005% by weight for No. 4 Canada (Can. Grain Comm. 1983). Initially the limit for canola was 0.02% by weight based on tolerances established for rodent (vertebrate) excreta. Because insect (non-vertebrate) excreta is less detrimental than rodent excreta, the limits for non-vertebrate excreta in canola marketed within Canada were increased to 0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3% for grades No. 1, 2 and 3 respectively (per. comm., L. Sequin, Deputy Director, Standards and Technology, Canadian Grain Commission). The previous limit of 0.02% remains in effect for canola entering the export market. Similar consideration was given to revising the limit for insect excreta in mustard seed but no change was made because the quality criteria are quite different; canola is extracted for its oil whereas mustard seed may undergo little processing before being consumed.
- Type
- Articles
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1984
References
- 2
- Cited by