Food processing facilities face a multitude of pest challenges on a daily basis. Each building is bound to have unique issues depending on its location and the types of products it handles and produces. Despite these differences, certain pests are frequently encountered across various facilities. An analysis of over 90,000 service visits revealed the top 10 pest challenges impacting food processors.
Basics of risk-based pest control
In 2015, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) brought a new focus to risk-based preventive controls for food manufacturing facilities. This strategy requires facilities to evaluate their unique risks, implement measures to reduce or eliminate those risks, confirm the effectiveness, and take corrective actions as needed to maintain them. These controls must be documented in detailed written records, alongside all related actions.
What does this have to do with pest control? Well, understanding the specific pest risks at your facility allows you and your pest management provider to pinpoint vulnerable areas and develop effective plans to prevent pest entry or manage them if they infiltrate your facility. If you’ve noticed any signs of pest activity within your property, take a look at our service page and learn how we can help.
Regular reviews of risk-based plans are essential to ensure they remain effective. Various factors can influence a facility’s pest control requirements, including:
- The introduction of new products, ingredients, equipment, suppliers, or processes, which can create additional risks.
- Construction or renovations that may necessitate updates to pest management strategies.
- Severe weather events, such as floods, droughts, or hurricanes, which might require temporary preventive actions.
Most problematic pests for food processors
Gaining insight into the pest challenges experienced by others in your industry can offer a new perspective and help you uncover risks at your facility that might have been missed.
This information can help you fine-tune your program to better address the most threatening pest concerns. If you think any of these pests could be an issue at your facility, don’t hesitate to contact us right away.
1. Rodents
Rodents are the most prevalent pest issue for processors, with infestations increasing nationwide. Mouse populations are at an all-time high, and roof rats are expanding into new territories.
2. Night-Flying Insects (Moths and Other Nocturnal Pests)
These insects are commonly found near loading docks and other areas that have frequent open access. Using insect light traps can effectively reduce their chances of entering facilities.
3. House Flies
House flies, often carriers of diseases, pose a serious threat to food processing operations. They can infiltrate through small cracks and openings, but insect light traps are a reliable tool to block their entry.
4. Small Flies and Gnats
This refers to pests such as phorid flies, fruit flies, and gnats. They thrive in damp environments or where organic debris is present, making sanitation a key element of their control.
5. Pigeons
Pigeons can significantly compromise food safety and public health through contamination. Implementing a customized pest management plan can help control pigeon activity around your facility.
6. Sparrows
These small birds frequently nest in structural gaps, such as roof overhangs, and can become a nuisance in loading docks or other vulnerable entry points. Installing pest exclusion measures is an effective way to prevent their intrusion.
7. Warehouse Beetles
These pests target stored products, particularly grains, and thrive in environments where grain dust gathers. Typical hotspots include coating rooms, sifting areas, hammer mills, elevators, and any place with significant dust buildup, such as beams and electrical boxes.
8. Indian Meal Moths
Indian meal moths are often spotted resting on or flying near areas where dried foods are stored. This includes raw ingredients or packaged goods like rice, birdseed, cornmeal, chocolate, crackers, dog food, dried fruits, and whole wheat products. Almost any dried food can become a potential infestation.
9. Bottle and Flesh Flies
These two fly species exhibit similar behavior and are commonly found around garbage, decomposing organic material, and animal waste in processing facilities.
10. Cigarette Beetles
Similar to warehouse beetles, cigarette beetles are a concern in areas where dried foods are processed, and fine particles accumulate. These pests are frequently encountered in milling, coating, and sifting rooms, as well as locations with plant or animal products and their byproducts.
As a McCloud Pest Solutions customer, your pest control program is customized to tackle the unique risks at your facility. During regular service visits, your dedicated specialist actively monitors for new pest threats or environmental factors that could attract pests, recording all observations in your Proof of Service Report.
If you’re not yet a McCloud customer and would like to explore our tailored pest management solutions for food processing facilities, contact us today to learn more.