Pest infestation is a major problem for food businesses, and it can be hard to know what steps you should take to keep your customers safe. This blog post will give you some ideas on how to handle pest infestation in the best way possible.
Table of Contents
Identify the problem
The first step in surviving a pest infestation in your food business is to identify exactly what kind of pests are causing the problem. Understanding which insects or rodents you’re dealing with will help you decide how to manage them and keep your customers safe from harm. According to the professional exterminators behind Metro Pest Control, you have to keep in mind that dealing with a specific type of pest can be very different in the way that you would need to manage another type of pest infestation. For example, you’ll want to use different pesticides for ants and roaches while you would use different traps for rodents.
Determine the source of the infestation
Once you’ve identified what pests are a problem, you need to pinpoint where they’re coming from and why. For example, if your pest is an ant colony living outside your business, see if there might be food sources near them that attract them. If you’re dealing with cockroaches, check out any cracks in the walls or gaps along the floorboards. Once you know what kind of pests are causing trouble and where they might be coming from, it will help you decide how to remove them so that they don’t return. For example, if there’s a crack in the wall causing an ant infestation, it’ll be important to seal that up and keep them from getting back inside.
Eliminate the infestation source
In some cases, you might find that particular food or item is causing an infestation problem for your food business. In this case, it will be important to remove that from your building so that they don’t have anything to eat and grow. For example, if you have a mouse infestation in your kitchen or storage area because of a bag of flour or baking powder that has been left open, take steps to remove the food so they don’t continue growing an infestation there. Also, when you’re removing food sources, you might need to do some additional cleaning in the area so that there are no other hidden pests or pest eggs.
Control pest entry points
After you know where your pests are coming from, take steps to prevent any more of them from entering your food business. Use pesticides or traps around the outside of your business to keep them away. You can also use sticky traps indoors if you know they’re coming in through a specific crack or gap. In this way, they won’t be able to get in and begin multiplying inside your business.
However, certain pests can’t be stopped from entering your food business even after sealing up gaps. For example, if you’re dealing with rodents like mice or rats, they might still be able to get inside through the roof or an air vent. In this case, it will be important to use traps that are placed along the walls or floorboards. This will help you control the pest issue and prevent them from getting into your food business.
Wash all surfaces with hot water and soap, then dry them thoroughly
As much as possible, you need to wash all surfaces with hot, soapy water. Then dry everything thoroughly so that there are no places for pests to hide or eat at your food business. This is important because even one hiding spot can turn into an infestation problem for you. Rest assured that when you use hot, soapy water to clean everything thoroughly, it will be much easier for you to prevent pests from coming back in the future.
Call the professionals
If your food business is infested with pests, it can be tempting to manage them on your own. However, pest infestations are best left in the hands of experienced professionals who know how to deal with each type of infestation. For example, if you have an ant problem that’s not getting better with pesticides or traps, it might be best to call an exterminator who can assess your situation and take steps to get rid of them for good. When you get in touch with professionals, you can be sure that your food business will get rid of pests for good.
Prevent re-infestations
For your pest management plan to work, you have to take steps to prevent re-infestations. This means that once your food business is pest-free, it’s important to keep the location in mind and do everything possible to avoid a future infestation. For example, if there was a problem with roaches in your kitchen, you might want to take steps like cleaning the area more often and sealing up any holes or gaps that could be causing them to get into your building. When you have a plan in place for how to get rid of pests and what you can do in the future to prevent them from coming back, it’ll be much easier for you to take action right away.
Additionally, be aware of your surroundings. Make sure that there are no large piles of trash or other material near your building. Never purchase any food from vendors who have set up tables outside without checking them first. Also, monitor your premises regularly. You should keep an eye on your building for any signs of infestation. Check the exterior and make sure that you’re not seeing ants or roaches coming in anywhere around there where they could be getting inside. Check also the area indoors, if applicable, to make sure there isn’t a mouse problem because of cracks along floorboards or near walls.
Keeping your food and store free of pests is important for the safety and satisfaction of customers. Follow the simple steps listed above to make sure that you’re taking care of any issues before they become infestations or localized problems. For more information about what you can do to help keep your business pest-free, contact the pest control experts today.
