Page 31 - Comprehensive Food Safety

31.03.2020

CHECKING FOR PESTS

Pests such as mice, birds and insects can spread disease. They do this by picking up bugs from
dirty items such as waste and transferring them to food and food equipment. Faeces and urine
from pests, such as rats and mice, can contaminate food and cause illness and food spoilage,
and pests can damage stock. It is important to keep pests out of your business.

Remove things that attract pests
• Rubbish – bins must be kept covered and rubbish removed regularly

• Cleaning – clearing and cleaning must be carried out regularly (“clean as you go”). Spills
etc must be cleaned up straight away. Cleaning schedule tasks must be completed daily.
Outdoor dining areas must be cleaned and cleared frequently, and used tableware,
waste etc must not be left to build up.
• Food storage – open and/or unpackaged food must be stored in pest-proof containers.

Keep pests out

• Maintenance – gaps and holes that could allow pest entry must be repaired as soon as
possible (eg holes in fly screens etc)
• Incoming goods – must be checked to make sure pests are not inside the packaging

Keep a look out for pest activity
• Check for and remove any signs of pests daily (eg droppings, damaged goods, empty full

traps, dead insects)

Pesticides and pest control equipment
• Pest control equipment, such as bait stations, electric insect killers, traps etc, must be
installed and located so that it doesn’t cause contamination
• When using pesticides, all food must be removed before treating the premises with

insecticides or chemical sprays. Food-contact surfaces (eg benches) must be cleaned to
remove the chemical before using them again

What if there is a problem?

If you see pests or evidence of pest activity take action to:
• throw out any food that looks like it has been damaged by pests;
• clean down the affected areas and clean and sanitise areas where unwrapped food is
prepared or handled;

• eliminate the pests and ensure that access routes are removed.

In the case of a severe pest infestation, or an infestation of cockroaches, call in a pest control
company.

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