Reopening your food business after the COVID-19 lockdown
Pest control
As your business may have been left unattended for a long period of time, you must inspect all areas for signs of public health pests (eg rats, mice and cockroaches).
Pest control is important as pests are a nuisance and a danger to health. They can contaminate food intended for humans, damage the structure of your premises (such as gnawing electric cables) and spread many forms of disease and harmful bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
Food hygiene legislation states that businesses must ensure food is protected against contamination and have adequate procedures in place to ensure pests are controlled. A serious and untreated infestation of a public health pest may result in a business being prohibited from trading.
Signs of an infestation include:
Cockroaches
- cockroach droppings (small dusty black droppings less than 1mm wide and of varying lengths)
- presence of cockroach egg cases (called oothecas) which are often found to the rear of refrigerators and freezers near the compressor/motor
- dead carcasses or moulted insect skins
Rodents
- presence rodent faeces in cupboards and under appliances
- evidence of gnawing (eg holes in skirtings and bottoms of wooden doors)
- gnawed goods or packaging
- greasy marks (smear marks) along walls
- bait being taken from bait trays
- animal footprints (in dust)
- urine stains (indicating a heavy infestation)
- musty smell (indicating a heavy infestation)
- seeing live vermin, especially inside cupboards or in dark areas
Prevention
Must include good hygiene, thorough cleaning and disinfection and removing food sources by decanting food sold in soft packaging in rodent and insect proof containers.
The best way to deal with pests is to exclude them from your premises completely by proofing you premises. Even if you do not have a current problem, measures should be taken to ensure that pests cannot enter your premises. It's always good practice to employ a professional pest control company to survey and treat your premises (when necessary).
Page last updated: 05 May 2022
