Table of Contents
Why are pests attracted to food premises?
Rats and mice are attracted by food supplies but do not venture far from their shelter or nesting sites, so will nest close to food sources. They are capable of a rapid increase in population given an abundant food supply, shelter from predators and benign environmental conditions inside a building.
What are the most common pests found in food premises?
As a food business proprietor it is your responsibility to have appropriate arrangements in place to effectively prevent pests from entering. The three main groups of pests that are encountered in food businesses are: Rodents – rats and mice. Insects – cockroaches, beetles, ants and flies.
Why we need to implement and follow the pest control in an establishment?
A pest infestation can put your product and your business’ reputation at risk because nobody wants to find something in the product that’s not on the label. To better control pests while respecting a food plant’s sensitive environmental needs, you need to apply the principles of integrated pest management (IPM).
What do pests need to survive in a food facility?
Foodservice establishments attract pests. Food, water and shelter, the three things any pest needs to survive, are all present.
What are pests in food safety?
The range of pests found in food processing plants will vary according to climate, geography and food ingredients processed, but the most common ones are beetles, moths, rodents, cockroaches, and flies.
Why should pests be removed from premises?
Since pests pose a significant health risk, pest control is extremely important. Inadequate control can lead to pest infestation and serious consequences to consumer health. Besides potential health risks, pest infestation will inevitably lead to significant waste and, therefore, commercial loss.
Why pest control is important for food safety?
Pest Control is important as pests can be both a nuisance and a danger to health. They can attack and contaminate food intended for hu- mans, damage the structure of your premises (such as electric cables) and spread many forms of disease and harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
Why pest control is important in food industry?
It should prevent physical, chemical and biological contamination of stored and processed food and during the food production process. Surfaces of walls, partitions and doors should be made of durable materials suitable for use in food preparation and storage areas and that are easy to clean and maintain.
Why pests should be controlled?
Pest control provides protection from harmful insects that can cause public health issues and costly damages to property. It is a huge responsibility to protect the public’s health and property from the risks involved with all kinds of pests.
How do pests contaminate food?
They can burrow into food packaging and contaminate it, rendering the contents inedible and causing setbacks for your business. Pests can spread diseases through their fur, feet, droppings, urine and saliva, as well as harmful bacteria like salmonella and E. coli if they are carrying it.
Why is pest control important?
Pest control is necessary because rodents and insects carry diseases, infest your kitchens and bedrooms, and bite you or your pets. The purpose of removing any kind of pest from your home, garage, or yard is to keep you safe and healthy. For example, rodents can leave feces on or near food they find in your kitchen.
Why is pest control important in agriculture?
Crop protection is the science and practice of managing pests, plant diseases and other pest organisms that damage agricultural crops. Pesticides help farmers to reduce crop damage from pests and increase food production. They’re very important as they improve the quality and yield of agricultural produce.
How can pest control be improved in food premises?
The layout, design and construction of food premises should permit good food hygiene practices including protection against contamination and, in particular, adequate pest control. The procedures should be based upon the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) principle generally.
How do pests affect your food industry business?
There are lots of ways pests may jeopardise your food industry business. When a customer sees a pest in the kitchen, dining tables or signs of pests around their meals. They will start to question the sanitation steps of your business. Rats, rodents and cockroaches are famous for bringing down the reputation of any food industry business.
How to prevent infestation in food businesses?
Infestation from stored product pests can take hold without being easily detected. A food business should have pest prevention systems in place, which include having the building proofed to a very high standard to prevent pests gaining access in the first place. You might have doors with a gap of a maximum 5mm to prevent rats or mice getting in.
What do you need to know about pest control?
The proper control of pests and compliance with food safety legislation at all retail food premises in a block of properties including the general environment surrounding the food businesses otherwise you could get immigration of infestation.