Maintaining a healthy commercial kitchen requires a great deal of hard work, particularly regarding food safety practices. Pest control is one of the best ways to keep your kitchen safe, as infestations can contaminate food, scare off customers and ruin expensive stock.
According to a poll conducted in 2006, more than 60 per cent of restaurant diners would tell more than five friends or acquaintances about spotting a pest in a food establishment. While three out of ten respondents implied that a pest sighting would stop them from returning to the restaurant in the future.
Keeping your restaurant clear of reputation-damaging pests means paying special attention to the areas in your kitchen that need to be routinely cleaned and cared for. Understanding where pests prefer to lurk should help you to ensure that your cleaning routine stays effective. For example, be cautious when maintaining:
|
Pest Risk |
Why It’s a Problem |
Prevention Action |
|
Rodents |
Can contaminate food and food preparation areas |
Seal entry points and maintain a clean and sanitised kitchen |
|
Cockroaches |
Spread bacteria and contaminate food and surfaces |
Keep areas clean and sanitised, remove food waste regularly |
|
Flies |
Can transfer bacteria to food and equipment |
Keep food covered and manage waste properly |
|
General pest activity |
Indicates poor sanitation or access to food sources |
Maintain cleaning and sanitising routines and proper food storage |
Here are some simple ways you can reduce the risk of pests invading your kitchen workspaces:
Remember that bacteria and pests can find their way into the cleanest of kitchens when employees neglect to pay special attention to hot-spot areas. Adopt easy-to-follow cleaning policies in keeping pests away from your restaurant, and make sure all staff members are familiar with your health and hygiene procedures.