Rats and cockroaches are the two pests food processing businesses run into most often, and both can quickly become a serious problem. They carry bacteria and viruses, which means they can contaminate food and the surfaces it touches, with real consequences for safety. Even a single sighting on the premises can trigger a flood of customer complaints.
Rats in food processing businesses
The UK has two species of rat: the black rat and the brown rat. The brown rat, also known as the Norway rat, reportedly eats almost a tenth of its body weight every day, with cereals a particular favourite, and it needs a lot of water. If you start noticing run marks leading towards a water source, the chances are you have a rat infestation on the premises.
Rats do not stop at the food itself. They gnaw through packaging, food storage, electrical wiring, ledges and wall insulation, so the damage spreads well beyond the obvious. For a food business owner that adds up to a long list of problems.
If you have seen rats, or signs of them, the safest move is to call in pest control. We can clear a rat infestation safely and effectively with as little disruption to your operation as possible.
Cockroaches in food processing businesses
Cockroaches have been around for more than 200 million years, and in that time many have made themselves at home in the food and catering industries. They started out in tropical climates but have since spread worldwide on the back of transport and the movement of goods. Give them the right temperature, humidity and a supply of food, and they will move in and raise a large family on site.
The biggest danger in a food premises is contamination. Cockroaches release biowastes as they go, including faeces, regurgitated food and a foul smell. They also pollute the air with fragments of their excrement and shed exoskeletons. Those particles are allergens, and they can cause serious health problems for staff and customers alike.
Noticed signs of cockroaches in your business? Call our pest control team and we will clear the infestation. We are open every day except Christmas Day, from early until late.