Rodents like mice and rats can be a huge issue for any food business, whether you’re serving fresh food in a restaurant or packaged goods in a corner store. Rodents quickly spread harmful bacteria everywhere they go with their droppings, urine and saliva. They leave droppings as they travel, so it doesn’t take them long to spread dangerous microorganisms all over your business. Beyond that, they’re very off-putting for customers, who will not want to patronise a business with a rodent problem.
Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) commonly find that businesses have an infestation because they have failed to put effective pest control measures in place. It’s extremely important to implement effective pest control and monitoring procedures in your food business. Training employees to identify and react appropriately to signs of a rodent infestation is an essential part of any pest control management system. The AIFS Food Handler Course covers pest control and maintaining food premises and equipment to prevent pests from entering your business.
The more employees you train, the more ground you’ll cover in the business, and the less likely it is that a few little mice will become a big problem. Everyone has a part to play in the fight against rodent infestation.
Though they’re small, rodents are a big deal if they get into your commercial kitchen. Here are just some of the problems they cause:
There are two keys to preventing rodent infestations:
Rodents tend to use the same routes and entryways into buildings; check your building for holes or cracks in walls or floors and seal them up. Keep in mind that a rat can enter a building through a 2.5cm hole and a mouse can enter through a hole about the size of a 5 cent coin.
Doors and windows are easy entry points for pests, so make sure that yours are tight-fitting and kept closed (when not in use). We recommend installing:
Food deliveries are another point of entry for rodents. Always use suppliers with a good reputation and verify that they have a pest management plan. When deliveries arrive, check for signs of rodent infestation before signing off. Check packaging for bite marks, holes or tears and look inside the truck for signs that pests are or have been there.
You have the right to conduct a thorough inspection of the delivery vehicle and goods. Failure to do so can result in costly problems for your business, so if you see any signs of rodent infestation, reject the entire delivery and inform your supplier.
Blocking the rodents' access to food is accomplished through effective waste disposal and storage, as well as good overall sanitation. If you have a dumpster on your property, move it as far away from the building as possible and never leave waste or unused food lying around. Be sure to:
Check your business at least once every two weeks for signs of pests. Remember to check storage areas and hard-to-reach areas, like underneath equipment and under shelves. Use a flashlight to help you see more clearly.
Look for any of the following signs of rodents:
If you see a rodent, or any signs that there are rodents in the building, the odds are slim that it's the only one. You'll need to act quickly to avoid a full-blown infestation (if there isn't one already).
If you detect rodents in your food business, you need to deal with them right away. Some of the most common methods used to eradicate rodent infestations are:
Glue boards aren’t poisonous so there’s no risk of contaminating food with chemicals. Rodents run onto the glue board and get stuck, though rats can often free themselves so they are more effective if you are dealing with mice. Be sure to check these often and discard of the boards and dead rodents once caught.
Mouse and rat traps are another option, with the spring trap being the most commonly used. Fresh food is used as bait, and the rodent is trapped by the spring when it tries to eat the food. Check traps frequently and dispose of dead rodents. (Wash your hands thoroughly afterwards!)
Poisonous baits should only ever be used with extreme caution and must be kept well away from food and food preparation areas. Employees should be instructed to stay well away from them.
Note: Extreme caution must be taken when using chemicals, such as poisonous baits, in a commercial kitchen. We recommended enlisting the services of a licensed Pest Control Operator to help you eradicate a rodent infestation in your restaurant or other food business.
Get a better understanding of the risks that common pests pose for your food business, and learn more techniques to safely prevent, control and eradicate them from your establishment with the Australian Institute of Food Safety’s (AIFS) comprehensive Guide to Pest Prevention and Control.