Food processing plants are perfect homes for a variety of dangerous and filthy pests. Easy access to food and plenty of places to hide and nest mean that pests will quickly contaminate your food processing plant if you don’t exercise preventative measures to safeguard your facility. To keep your food processing plant or other commercial property clean and free of pests, its best to contact a professional. Quik-Kill provides excellent commercial protection that will keep your plant safe from pests.
4 Common Pests Found In Food Processing Plants In Quad Cities
The presence of food is incredibly attractive to four common insects: flies, cockroaches, pantry pests, and rodents.
Flies: House flies are the most common flies found in food processing plants. At 1/8th of an inch, they are incredibly tiny and hard to catch. They are dark grey with black lines on the top. Any type of food or waste will attract flies and they are difficult to eliminate as they reproduce quickly.
Cockroaches: While appearances vary depending on type, most cockroaches are between 5/8ths of an inch to 1 inch in length. Colors include tan, beige, dark brown, reddish-brown, and black, among others. They are attracted to filth and will feed on any organic food material they can find.
Pantry Pests: These insects are primarily beetles but may also be an Indian meal moth or rice weevils. These pests are more common in food processing plants that deal with grains and other dry foods. Pantry pests live and breed inside food, so they can go undetected by blending in with the food or laying eggs inside of the food itself.
Rodents: Mice and rats are well-known pests to food processing plants. Mice are smaller than rats and usually have lighter brown, smaller tails, rounded ears, and shorter snouts. Rats usually have dark brown or black fur and much longer tails. Ample nesting/hiding locations and access to food make food processing plants desirable targets for rodents.
Problems That Pests Cause For Food Processing Plants In Quad Cities
Pests create all kinds of problems for food processing plants. The most destructive problem is food contamination. All four pests listed above contaminate or destroy food products in one way or another. You’ll end up wasting tons of food, and therefore a lot of money as well.
Pests can also travel with your food once it leaves your facility, leading to pests inside supermarkets where the food is sold and in the homes of unsuspecting customers that purchase your food.
On top of all that, a pest infestation will hurt your plant’s credibility which ruins your business opportunities. They will also and damage and dirty your facility, which will cost money to fix and may lead to health code violations. Pests are incredibly costly problems that need to be taken care of immediately.
Secrets For Preventing Pest Infestations In Your Quad Cities Food Processing Plant
Though some pests may seem inevitable inside of a food plant, there are some preventative measures you can take to make sure that your problem doesn't get out of hand.
Inspect incoming deliveries for any signs of pest infestations.
- Regularly rotate stock.
- Ensure food is kept away from walls and windows and stored properly.
- Cover garbage cans and dumpsters and remove trash often.
- Clean drains; install additional drains in areas that accumulates moisture.
- Caulk or seal any cracks or openings on the building.
- Install door sweeps and self-closing doors. For doors that are always open, use plastic strip curtains or screens.
Safe Pest Prevention For Quad Cities Food Processing Plants
In the end, it's almost necessary for a food processing plant to invest in year-round pest control. Our experts at Quick-Kill Pest Eliminators have the experience needed to keep your facility clean so that you don't have to worry about unwanted pests ruining your reputation. Furthermore, using insecticides and other harsh DIY treatments puts your food at risk, especially if handled by an untrained individual.
Trust Quik-Kill for your year-round pest control. We are trained to discreetly handle all pests that plague your food processing plant. Contact us today to discuss all of the options to keep your facility pest free.