Lightly insect infested food must be immediately removed and placed in the freezer for how many hours prior to sifting?

The proper procedure for handling lightly insect-infested food involves placing it in the freezer for a specified duration to effectively kill the insects. Freezing food for 72 hours is the recommended time frame because this duration ensures that all stages of the insects (including eggs and larvae) are sufficiently exposed to sub-zero temperatures, which is necessary for their destruction. This method is a common practice in food safety and pest management to prevent contamination and ensure that the food can be safely sifted and consumed afterward. The other durations (24, 48, and 96 hours) do not align with the widely accepted practice, as 72 hours is the optimal time to guarantee that the food is safe for further processing.