Food safety and pest prevention go hand-in-hand

October 21, 2004
Food Service Central
http://www.foodservicecentral.com/content/news/article.asp?docid={6D06B910-4
D85-4F12-B1D9-BD27570CFD1E}&VNETCOOKIE=NO

CHARLOTTE, NC - One of the simplest yet essential steps in food safety is pest prevention. However, many organizations overlook its role. Pests contaminate food and spread disease, creating a serious risk to public health. The evidence or live presence of pests can determine whether a food facility passes or fails a regulatory audit, is the target of a lawsuit or loses public confidence, and it can damage a brand image. A solid pest prevention program that includes attention to structural, storage and sanitation issues not only keeps pests at bay, but it also makes for a cleaner, more organized environment, which is a crucial element of food safety.

"Pest management is directly related to food safety, whether you're a processor, operate a restaurant or are involved in food production," says Dr. Fred Whitford, Pesticide Specialist, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. "Pest management is one piece of the food safety puzzle. That's why health departments inspect restaurants, the U.S. Department of Agriculture inspects meat and poultry plants, and private consultants audit facilities to make sure food is safe to consume."

Every year, food borne diseases cause nearly 80 million cases of illness in the United States. Pests, including cockroaches, stored products insects, rodents and birds, harbor and spread disease-carrying organisms that can easily contaminate food products. For example, cockroaches can transmit bacteria and organisms responsible for food poisoning, cholera, dysentery and salmonellosis.

However, cockroaches are far from the only culprits. Flies are also notorious disease carriers that can spread dysentery. In laboratory tests, fruit flies were found to carry the deadly bacterium E. coli O157:h7, which can cause severe illness, kidney failure and even death. And, according to the Mallis Handbook of Pest Control, rodents have the "potential for carrying a myriad of microorganisms and ectoparasites," including those that cause food-borne diseases such as salmonellosis and trichinosis as well. Here are the top five tips to effectively prevent pests in food service, processing and related environments:

Professional and environmentally responsible pest management. Food environments are not the places for the do-it-yourself approach. The overuse of pesticides can be as much of a problem as pests themselves. By contrast, an environmentally responsible pest management program prevents and removes pests while reducing the use of harmful pesticides. It features a multi-pronged approach that includes inspection, physical removal of pests, monitoring of the issue, minor structural repair as necessary, further prevention with reduced-pesticide usage alternatives and follow-up. These alternatives may include bait stations or foams, which stay put, are relatively nonvolatile and disperse minimally into the air. These tactics are just parts of the EcoSensitiveO Pest Prevention Program, developed by The Steritech Group, Inc., the first environmentally responsible program to effectively eliminate pests.

Storage.
Clutter, old equipment and poor storage habits can create safe havens for pests. Organization can help to eliminate many potential pest problems. This includes removing old or broken equipment, storing items off the floor, and not keeping items pushed against the wall (a good rule is six inches from the floor and away from walls). Removing clutter gets rid of the hiding places that are perfect for pests. It also allows your pest management professional to easily access areas and locate potential problems.

Food, water and shelter.
What happens on the exterior greatly impacts indoor pest problems. Eliminating pest harborage and sources of food and water can drastically reduce pest populations. Therefore, remove any pooling or standing water (outdoors and indoors). This may include re-examining the landscaping of a facility, ensuring that automatic sprinkler systems are not over watering, providing sufficient run-off drainage and removing any vegetation that
requires excessive irrigation. Also avoid using mulch, as it provides both a food source and habitation for pests, and is a common site for rodents to burrow against a building. Three-inch egg rock is a great replacement for mulch.

On the interior, keeping the facility as clean as possible is important, since good sanitation is essential to eliminating food and water sources for pests. Repair leaking plumbing, clean drains regularly and seal any structural holes, gaps, cracks and crevices with caulk, screening or other pest-proof material. Clean up food and beverage spills immediately, be vigilant in ensuring dry goods are stored properly and follow a regular cleaning procedure to eliminate pest-attracting food residue.

Lighting.
Avoid pointing lighting at doors or positioning it directly above entryways. Exterior lighting can attract insect pests to and into a building. All exterior lighting, including parking lot lights, should consist of sodium-vapor bulbs (yellow lights), which attract fewer insects than the standard incandescent type. Shelter bulbs with covers, canopies or lampshades.

Other Concerns.
A comprehensive rodent management program is absolutely imperative in any facility that produces food, and especially in buildings surrounded by large fields, forests or other areas where rodents are traditionally present. Rodent stations should be placed every 50 to 100 feet along the exterior of the building and along fence lines.

For more pest management tips in food environments, write to The Steritech Group, Inc., 7600 Little Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28226, call 704-544-1900 or e-mail contact@steritech.com.

The Steritech Group, Inc. operates throughout the United States and Canada. Since 1986, the privately held company has specialized in providing food safety and pest prevention services to the food service, retail, food processing, hospitality and health care industries. For more information on Steritech or the services it offers, visit www.steritech.com.

Source: The Steritech Group, Inc.