Managing pests is a persistent issue for food processing facilities, where problems vary based on the location and products involved. These challenges can compromise product safety, regulatory compliance, and overall operational efficiency. Yet, some pests remain a widespread concern across the sector. Bug Out has highlighted the top 10 pest challenges faced by food processors. Read More about it here.
Understanding Risk-Based Pest Control
Implemented in 2015, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) established risk-based preventive controls as a key requirement for food manufacturers. Under this regulation, facilities must assess their risks, adopt measures to reduce or eliminate them, verify these measures’ effectiveness, and correct any shortcomings. Detailed written plans and extensive documentation of these processes are also required.
What does this mean for pest management? Quite a lot. Understanding the specific pest challenges at your facility allows you and your pest control provider to focus on critical areas and implement customized solutions. Regularly reviewing and updating risk-based plans is equally important, as pest control needs can evolve. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Product Changes: Introducing new products, ingredients, suppliers, processes, or production lines can create additional risks that need to be addressed.
- Weather Impact: Severe weather events like flooding, droughts, or hurricanes may necessitate temporary updates to preventive controls.
- Construction Activities: Construction projects can expose new vulnerabilities, requiring adjustments to pest management strategies.
Pest Pressures Faced by Food Processors
Gaining insight into the pest challenges encountered by others in your industry can help you reevaluate your facility and identify risks you may have missed.
Bug Out analyzed pest data from food processing facilities and identified the top 10 pest challenges. This list can guide you in prioritizing threats and refining your pest control budget as you finalize your current plans. The pests on the list are as follows:
- Rodents: Rodents continue to be the most pressing pest problem for food processors, with increasing pressures nationwide. Growing mouse populations and the expanding range of roof rats are major concerns for many facilities.
- Night Flying Pests: Moths and other nocturnal insects are often drawn to loading docks or areas with frequent openings. Installing insect light traps can significantly reduce their entry into food processing facilities.
- House Flies: As known disease carriers, house flies present serious risks to food processing operations. They can easily enter through small openings, but insect light traps offer an effective solution to prevent infestations.
- Indian Meal Moths: These pests are commonly found near stored dried foods, targeting raw ingredients and packaged goods like rice, birdseed, chocolate, crackers, and dried fruits. They are drawn to virtually any dried food source.
- Bottle and Flesh Flies: These flies thrive near garbage, decaying organic matter, or animal waste, making them a significant hygiene concern for food processing facilities.
- Cigarette Beetles: Cigarette beetles are frequently found in areas where dried foods are processed, such as milling or sifting operations. They flourish in dusty environments and near animal or plant byproducts.
- Small Flies/Gnats: Phorid flies, fruit flies, and gnats are persistent in areas with moisture or organic debris, creating ongoing challenges in food processing environments.
- Pigeons: Pigeons pose health and contamination risks in food facilities. Targeted management strategies, like those offered by Bug Out, can help minimize pigeon activity effectively.
- Sparrows: Sparrows and other small birds often nest in openings such as roof overhangs. From these nests, they can enter facilities, particularly around loading docks. Implementing exclusion measures can reduce this threat.
- Warehouse Beetles: These pests infest stored products like grains and grain dust, causing issues in grain elevators, hammer mills, coating rooms, and areas with significant dust accumulation, including beams and electrical boxes.
Bug Out for Expert Pest Control
As a Bug Out customer, your pest management program is tailored to address the specific risk areas of your facility. With each routine service, our specialist detects any new pest issues or conditions that could encourage pest activity and documents them in your Proof of Service Report.
Interested in a pest control program customized for your food processing facility? Get in touch with Bug Out today!
