Food Hygiene - Pest Control

 

There are three types of pests that are commonly found in and around food production areas, these are:

• Rodents - rats and mice
• Insects – houseflies, cockroaches and ants to name but a few
• Birds – pigeons, magpies and sparrows

These pests can carry bacteria and transfer it from them to the food.  Adopting a 3 point strategy can help reduce pest contamination.

• Prevent Access…… Keep external windows and doors closed.  Use fly screens on windows. Cover any holes on external walls.

• Deny them Favourable Conditions…… Follow your clean as you go procedures to prevent a build- up of debris and waste and maintain a high standard of cleaning.  Keep lids on external and internal bins and empty them frequently. Keep all foods covered and do not leave any out overnight.
• Report signs of pests…….Regular visual inspection of likely pest areas including delivery and dry stores for droppings, dead bodies, nibbled boxes or gnawed wood.

So what threat do Pests pose?

Pests can cause a number of problems not least the actual transfer of bacteria onto uncovered food.
Rats and mice can crawl through the smallest of holes and because they are incontinent they will urinate and contaminate work surfaces and food. Bacteria can be found in their droppings and on their food.   They will often be found in dry stores which tend to be quieter and come out at night.
Flies can carry Typhoid and get into most places. They will breed anywhere so it is important to cover food that is left out.  
Birds can carry Campylobacter on their beaks. Birds are a common scavenger and are always on the lookout for food, they can contaminate through their bodies, beaks and excreta.  Once you have a bird problem it is a difficult one to get rid of and again preventative measures are best taken.  Keeping refuge areas clean and tidy and all uneaten foods binned appropriately.

Further precautions are:

• Self-closing doors
• Sticky fly paper placed away from food and replaced regularly.
• Electronic insect killers will kill any insect that flies into it attracted by the light.  Do not locate these above food preparation areas as the insects explode on contact and could fall onto the food.  Place them away from other light sources for maximum effect. 

Cockroaches are difficult to spot and require a professional company as dangerous chemicals are used.  They live in the drains and other inaccessible places and come out at night.  They can be brought in through deliveries so these should always be checked.

By maintaining clean premises you can play a preventative role in preventing an infestation.

If you suspect that you have pests you should inform your supervisor immediately and dispose of any contaminated food.

If you have pests….
If you suspect that you have a pest problem it is advisable to contact the local authority or a specialist contractor so they can advise you on the best solution.

Solutions such as traps and poison can be used but without professional advice, unlikely to be completely successful and potentially cause other hazards i.e. through the poisonous chemicals.  Do not use cats or any other form of pet they will only spread other bacteria’s.

Finished? Try some sample test questions here. (Answers can be found in the download section)