Controlling pests in food businesses

You must ensure your premises are free from pests. Pests are attracted to kitchens and food storage areas because these areas provide a warm habitat and a source of food and water.

Common pests

Rats, mice, flies and cockroaches are the most common pests that might infest your premises.

Rats, mice and cockroaches are nocturnal so will be most active at night. Insects, including weevils and beetles (and their larvae), might be present in food or packaging delivered to your business. Once established in food containers or undisturbed places they will multiply rapidly.

Pests contaminate food and surfaces with bacteria from their urine, droppings and bodies. These bacteria may cause food poisoning.

Pest damage can result in spoilage and wastage of food. Whole or parts of pests may also find their way into food. Rats and mice gnaw cables, electrical wires and containers, and may cause extensive and costly damage to your premises.

Checking for pests

Check for evidence of pests in your premises.

Signs include:

• live or dead bodies, eggs, larvae and pupa
• droppings from cockroaches, rats and mice
• damage to packaging, food, wires, woodwork, cardboard or paper
• footprints of rats and mice in spilt flour
• musty odours (mice and rats have a distinctive smell)
• webbing produced by larvae that bind food particles together in food such as flour
• customers complain of seeing pests or finding pests in purchased food.

What you can do to prevent pests infesting your premises

• Employ a pest control company to eradicate pests.
• Pest-proof your premises.
• Ensure there are no holes or access points from outside.
• Provide self-closing doors, weather strips around doors, air curtains at entries and fly-screens at windows.
• Ensure drains have grates.
• Remove sources of food by keeping all areas of the kitchen, equipment and storerooms clean.
• Clean before leaving at night.
• Remove all garbage at close of business and store in bins with close-fitting lids.
• Remove places where pests can breed, for example, unwanted or unused equipment.
• Use physical means such as traps to kill small numbers of pests. Know how to use the chemicals, baits and traps, and take care to avoid contaminating food.
• Use specific bait containers appropriate for the pest.
• Do not leave bait where other animals or children could eat it.
• Leave all chemicals in their original containers so that labelling and instructions are kept.
• Install ultraviolet (or similar) insect killers. Locate them away from food preparation benches, stove tops or other areas where fallen dead insects can contaminate food.