Lunch Box Restrictions to Prevent the Spread of Fruit Fly in South Australia

January 26, 2021

Lunch Box Restrictions – Preventing the Spread of Fruit Fly in South Australia

South Australia has been battling fruit fly for 12 months and residents in outbreak or suspension areas are restricted from packing host fruit (fruit that fruit flys like) in their lunch boxes to help curb the spread of fruit fly.

A fruit fly outbreak is declared by PIRSA (The Department of Primary Industries and Regions) when fruit fly are detected through maggot infested fruit or through the presence of flies in surveillance traps. Once a fruit fly outbreak is declared, PIRSA establishes a 1.5 km outbreak area and a 7.5 km suspension area around the detection site for Mediterranean fruit fly. An eradication program also immediately commences.

CLICK HERE to see whether your suburb is located within an outbreak or suspension area

Click on the map below to expand or print:

Across metropolitan Adelaide, there are also many retail outlets in the current outbreak and suspension areas.

While produce from supermarkets and retail outlets is certified to reduce the risk of fruit fly, restrictions are in place for shop-bought host fruit and fruiting vegetables to reduce the risk of fruit fly potentially spreading.

What to do if you live in a fruit fly outbreak or suspension area.

Red areas are outbreak areas.

The fruit and veg that fruit fly like can’t move from your property. Keep fruit in the fridge rather than in a fruit bowl. Fruit waste has to go in your green bin – not composted.

Yellow areas are suspension areas.

You can move fruit and veg that fruit fly like within the yellow area. You can’t take this type of fruit and veg into the green area. (If you take it into a red area, it can’t come out again).

Green areas are not impacted by fruit fly and no restrictions apply within this area.

Check if you are in a red, yellow or green area by looking at the maps. CLICK HERE for the Metropolitan Adelaide map for residents.

CLICK HERE FOR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

? Host Fruits & Vegetables

The host fruits on the list including bananas, apples, pears, peaches, blueberries, and fruiting vegetables should not be included in lunch boxes or otherwise moved around.

These restrictions only apply to fruit fly host produce – find the full list below at pir.sa.gov.au/fruitfly-produce

✅ Alternative fruits and vegetables for lunch boxes

The Dept of Primary Industries has suggested alternatives for lunch boxes that are non-fruit fly host items such as:

? carrots

? celery

? pineapple

? cucumbers

? lettuce

? cooked fruit

? processed fruit (such as fruit straps)

? fruit puree

? canned fruit

❄️ frozen fruit (eg frozen grapes)

? melons (watermelon, rockmelon, honeydew)

? Strawberries*

*Strawberries attract Queensland fruit fly not Mediterranean fruit fly. Metropolitan Adelaide currently has a Mediterranean fruit fly outbreak. The Riverland currently has a Queensland fruit fly outbreak. Please check to see if and how you are affected, by looking at the maps and reading the information on the PIRSA website site.

IF YOU ARE STILL HAVE QUESTIONS, PLEASE CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

For more information and all enquiries please visit the PIRSA website

At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.

Image Source: Primary Industries and Regions SA Facebook page & website

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