Are restaurants required to have pest control?
If you run a food service business you will want to know what laws and regulations you need to adhere to.
BC law states that every operator of food premises must ensure that the premises are; free of pests, free of conditions that lead to the harbouring or breeding of pests, and protected against the entrance of pests.
As well as that, the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations Guide, created by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) recommends that all commercial kitchens have a pest control program in place with step-by-step details on how the pest control activities are to be performed.
Sound stressful? It doesn’t have to be. That’s why most business choose a licensed pest control company to help them meet standards.
What pests do restaurants need to look out for?
Rodents:
Rats and mice will come in search of food and shelter. Both Rats and mice can carry disease that can be extremely harmful to customers and staff. Diseases that can be transmitted by rodents include, lymphocytic choriomeningitis, tularemia, as well as lyme disease which can be passed on indirectly via a tick or mite.
Cockroaches:
Cockroaches love kitchens.. and a dirty kitchen at that!
Food contamination is the main cause for concern with cockroaches. Then can also spread disease and also cause concerning issues for those with respiratory difficulties, so it’s crucial to maintain a clean food environment to keep these pesky fellows away
Flies:
Flies are a real nuisance and restaurants are a haven for flies to thrive.
Flies will feed and harvest their larvae on organic decaying material. This includes standing waster or any decomposing organics including fruit, vegetables, meat, and animal. They’ll spread this disease across food preparation surfaces and onto humans. Flies have been known to carry diseases, including cholera and typhoid.
What can restaurants do to combat pests?
- Be proactive about adhering to health & safety regulations. You don’t want a heath authority inspector to come and find an issue and shut you down. You could be closed for months before you’re allowed open again. Ensure that you are up to date on the latest Health Requirements provided the Food Safety Authority
- Clean Garbage Areas – try and keep them as tidy as possible and don’t overload them too much. Rats and other wildlife love to rummage around in grubby back alley garbage areas.
- To prevent flies make sure to keep your drains and drain traps clean.
- Think sanitation at all times – any surfaces that come in contact with food should be sterilized regularly. Consider having a deep antimicrobial clean to disinfect your restaurant
- Inspections – if you’re concerned that you have pests in your kitchen or storage rooms, then reach out to a pest control company for who can carry out an inspection for you.
- Have a proactive pest management program in place
Restaurant Pest Control FAQs
Talk To Us About Your Pest Issues
Most food service businesses will have a recurring pest management solution in place. At Westside we have extensive experience in dealing with restaurants and cafes, and we can give you peace of mind that someone is tackling these challenges for you.
We service all food service industry customers; Restaurants, Cafes, Bars, Foods Courts. You can trust us to eliminate your pest bird problems once and for all! Learn more about our commercial pest control solutions, or call us today for a free on-site consultation and quote.
Westside also has pest control solutions available for Industrial, Institutional, Manufacturing and Warehousing facilities.
Benefits of implementing a commercial pest control solution;