Meat&Poultry -- June 2014 - 60

prevention
Identifying the usual
suspects is a crucial step

Cockroaches, which are the most-common pests found
in food-processing facilities, have been shown to transmit diseases including bacteria such as Salmonella, Vibrio
cholera, Staphylococcus aureus and others.

BY KIMBERLIE CLYMA
kclyma@sosland.com

The first step to controlling roaches is eliminating places
where they may live, including cardboard boxes. It's important to seal and fill cracks and crevices throughout the

roper pest prevention and management has always

plant in production and non-production areas.

been an important part of food safety, especially in

The most common flying insects are the housefly and

food-processing facilities. However, according to Dr. Jim

fruit fly. A single housefly has been estimated to carry up

Fredericks, vice president of technical and regulatory af-

to 3.6 million bacteria. The most effective method of fly

fairs, National Pest Management Association, "As the

control is removing and eliminating breeding sites, which

Food Safety Modernization Act [FSMA] gives the Food

primarily means the availability of garbage. Sticky traps,

and Drug Administration [FDA] much more authority

baited jug traps or sticky ribbons are effective ways to re-

and oversight, a lack of or inadequate pest management

duce the number of flies. Insecticidal sprays or fogs can

program can result in fines and shutdowns in addition to

also be used to suppress flies.

tarnished reputations. Since the goal of FSMA is to de-

Stored product pests include insects that use food for

crease the incidence of foodborne illness, especially cases

nourishment and a habitat, including weevils, beetles,

that result from contaminated food-

borers and moths. These pests aren't usually associated

manufacturing facilities, operators

with disease, but they are a food contaminant. Regularly

must proactively implement proper

cleaning storage areas and processing equipment to re-

pest-management programs to pro-

move ingredient spills and accumulated dust is important.

tect the public from the harmful ef-

Several species of birds carry disease and therefore

fects of pests and rodents."

pose a risk to food-processing facilities. The most com-

An effective pest-control pro-

mon bird pests are pigeons, sparrows and starlings. The

gram begins with an understand-

best method of control is eliminating nesting and feeding

ing of potential pests, their feeding

sites on the building.

habits, where and how they live and

plant and storage areas will eliminate rodent hiding places.

in food facilities include cockroaches,

Finally, rodents must be denied entry into the food plant,

flying insects, stored product pests,

which includes filling all structural cracks, screening fan

birds and rodents.
Meat&Poultry *

containers and consume food. Removing clutter from food

Pests that need to be watched for

because they can carry disease and will also damage food

of controlling and eliminating them.

Rodents include rats and mice, which must be controlled

various safe and effective methods

and vent openings and installing drain covers.

June 2014 *

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Meat&Poultry -- June 2014

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