Why is Pest Management Important in a Restaurant?

Along with the health risks pests cause in restaurants, they’ll do great harm to your reputation and, ultimately, your business. Restaurant pest control is vital to maintaining a clean and healthy environment for employees and customers.

In this blog on pest management in restaurants, we’ll look at the following questions:

What Problems Do Pests Cause for a Restaurant?

Food Contamination

Pests are a significant issue in restaurants, impacting both employees and customers. Many pests can carry diseases with them that are spread through physical contact. Leaving food supplies exposed and accessible can allow pests to contaminate foods. Even if food is kept sealed off, pests can spread disease on countertops, kitchen appliances, and other surfaces.

Damage to Property

Some types of pests are prone to causing more damage to physical property than others. Termites damage wood structures and furniture. In extreme termite infestations, permanent structural damage can occur. 

Likewise, several species of beetles can damage hardwood floors, creating holes and tunnels for larvae. Plenty of other pests, such as ants and silverfish, can weaken the structure of a building due to feeding on certain materials like cellulose and creating nests.

Loss of Revenue

News of pest infestation in a restaurant is a massive turn-off for returning and future customers. Word spreads fast through review apps such as Yelp and Google My Business. If even one customer finds a cockroach or beetle crawling around your restaurant, it can damage your reputation and lead to fewer customers. A health inspector may temporarily or permanently shut down a restaurant depending on how severe a pest problem it is.

Why are Pests a Food Safety Hazard?

The majority of pests carry diseases spread through contact with other objects. An infestation means jeopardizing the safety of both employees and customers. 

For example, the following pests can carry possible diseases and infections:

  • Cockroaches. Salmonella, typhoid fever, cholera, dysentery, polio.
  • Rats. Salmonella, leptospirosis, hantavirus, fever, lymphocytic, monkeypox.
  • Fleas. Typhus, tapeworm, cat scratch disease, plague, tularemia.
  • Ticks. Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, rocky mountain spotted fever, tularemia.
  • Mosquitoes. West Nile virus, malaria, chikungunya, Zika virus, yellow fever, and dengue fever.

The symptoms of diseases and infections caused by pests can vary from a mild allergy-caused rash to severe complications such as organ failure. While the majority of the time, these issues aren’t fatal, they can cause serious, long-term health problems if left untreated.

What are the Most Common Pests in Restaurants?

Pests typically enter homes and buildings in search of food and shelter. If restaurants don’t take precautions, they can quickly become the target of an infestation. 

  • Flies are common in most buildings due to their abundance and flight, making it easy to access openings. Fruit flies and drain flies are common issues in restaurants due to their attraction to moisture and decomposing food.
  • Ants work in colonies and have an amazing sense of smell and direction. Crumbs and exposed food can attract them by the dozens. Every state is home to numerous species of ants, making them a common pest in restaurants.
  • Rodents have one main objective, searching out food. Because of this, restaurants are a significant hotspot for rats and mice alike. Crevices and holes in the wall can allow rodents to quickly come and go from restaurant kitchens, contaminating food and surfaces.

What are the Signs of Pest Rodent Infestations in a Restaurant?

Rodents may be sneaky, but they leave behind evidence of their presence. 

Signs that rodents are in a restaurant include:

  • Holes and tears in food products
  • Chew marks on appliances and furniture (wiring, chair legs, etc.)
  • Droppings on the floor, surfaces, and in the fridge and pantry
  • Rodent nesting material (shredded paper, insulation, torn fabric, etc.)
  • Grease marks, urine stains, and odors on walls, floors, and in cupboards
  • Odd sounds in walls, ceiling, pantries, and cupboards (scratching, rustling, and chewing)

What Sort of Damage Do Rodents Cause in a Restaurant?

Rodents use their sharp teeth and claws to access food sources, make pathways in walls and ceilings, and build nesting areas. They can chew through wiring, furniture, wood beams, packages, and insulation. 

Along with the physical damage caused by rodents, they can also contaminate food and hurt the restaurant’s reputation. Rodents carry a variety of diseases and infections, spreadable through contact with food, surfaces, and appliances. 

Rats and mice can carry hantavirus, leptospirosis, tularemia, plague, fever, lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCMV), typhus, ringworm, Tyzzer’s disease, and salmonella. These diseases lead to health complications like digestive issues, abdominal pain, flu-like symptoms, dehydration, lethargy, skin lesions, and rashes.

Sightings of rodents in the kitchen and dining area or reports of customers becoming sick can permanently affect the restaurant’s reputation and harm revenue.

Do Most Restaurants Have Roaches?

It’s unfortunate, but most restaurants will deal with cockroaches at some point. Cockroaches are very durable and resourceful, and restaurants supply them with food, water, and shelter. 

Once they figure out a way into a restaurant, they can be challenging to get rid of. Thankfully, cleanliness protocols and investing in regular pest control services can manage and prevent roach problems.

What is the Most Effective Way to Prevent Pest Problems in a Restaurant?

Restaurant employers and employees can take preventive measures for pest problems. These can deter pests from entering the restaurant and minimize the risk of infestation.

Consider the following measures:

  • Clean Regularly. Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors and wipe down counters to remove crumbs and other food traces.
  • Keep food sealed. Tightly close and seal food containers in the fridge, pantry, and cabinets. Because some pests will chew through materials like cardboard, you can switch out boxes for plastic containers to make access more difficult.
  • Remove open water. Water sources such as leaky pipes, filled sinks, spills, and fountains can attract pests due to built-up moisture.
  • Seal cracks and crevices. Besides open windows and doors, any openings in a building’s foundation can allow pests to enter. Sealing any cracks and holes that could be used as entry points is essential.
  • Take out the garbage. When trash sits indoors, odors from thrown-out food and decaying organic matter can entice pests inside.
  • Schedule regular pest control. Perhaps the most crucial step, maintaining ongoing pest control, will ensure that existing and future pest infestations are handled.

You May Also Like