The Top 10 Pest Challenges in Food Processing

Pest challenges are a constant concern for food processing facilities, with each location grappling with distinct issues tied to its surroundings and the products it processes. Despite these differences, some pests pose recurring challenges across the industry. Assured Environments uncover the top 10 pest challenges impacting food processors, read more below.

Understanding Risk-Based Pest Control

The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), enacted in 2015, introduced risk-based preventive controls as a fundamental standard for food manufacturers. This regulation requires facilities to identify their risks, implement strategies to mitigate or eliminate them, validate their effectiveness, and address any deficiencies. Comprehensive written plans and thorough documentation of all related processes are also mandatory.

What does this mean for pest management? A great deal. Identifying the unique pest pressures of your facility enables you and your pest control provider to target key problem areas and create tailored solutions. It’s also essential to routinely reassess risk-based plans, as pest control demands can change over time. Consider the following:

• Changes: Adding new products, ingredients, suppliers, processes, or production lines can introduce fresh risks that require attention.
• Weather: Extreme weather conditions, including flooding, droughts, or hurricanes, may demand temporary adjustments to preventive measures.
• Construction: Ongoing construction projects might require modifications to pest control strategies to address new vulnerabilities.

Pest Pressures Faced by Food Processors

Understanding the pest challenges faced by others in your industry can provide valuable insights, allowing you to reassess your facility and uncover risks that might have been overlooked.

Assured Environments reviewed pest data from food processing facilities in 2017, uncovering the top 10 pest challenges. As you finalize your present pest control plans, this list could help you prioritize threats and adjust your budget accordingly. Here are the pests that made the list:

1. Rodents: Rodents remain the top pest issue for food processors, with rising pressures across the country. Increasing mouse populations and the expanded range of roof rats are key concerns for many facilities.
2. Night Flying Pests: Moths and other nocturnal insects often congregate around loading docks or frequently opened areas. Using insect light traps can help reduce their entry into facilities.
3. House Flies: House flies, known carriers of diseases, pose significant threats to food processing facilities. They easily enter through small gaps or openings, but insect light traps can effectively prevent infestations.
4. Indian Meal Moths: Commonly found near stored dried foods, these pests target raw ingredients and packaged products such as rice, birdseed, chocolate, crackers, and dried fruits. They are attracted to any dried food source.
5. Bottle and Flesh Flies: These flies are usually found near garbage, decaying organic matter, or animal waste in food processing facilities, presenting significant hygiene risks.
6. Cigarette Beetle: Often seen in areas where dried foods are processed, such as milling or sifting locations, cigarette beetles thrive in dust-prone environments and near animal or plant byproducts.
7. Small Flies/Gnats: Phorid flies, fruit flies, and gnats are common in areas with moisture or organic debris, making them a persistent problem in food processing settings.
8. Pigeons: Pigeons pose contamination and health risks to food facilities. Targeted management programs designed by Assured Environments can help reduce pigeon activity.
9. Sparrows: Sparrows and other small birds often nest in small openings like roof overhangs. From these nests, they can enter facilities, particularly near loading docks. Exclusion measures can mitigate this risk.
10. Warehouse Beetle: These stored product pests target grains and grain dust, causing problems in areas like grain elevators, hammer mills, coating rooms, and any location where dust builds up, including beams and electrical boxes.

Assured Environments for Expert Pest Control

As an Assured Environments customer, your pest management program is customized to target the unique risk areas of your facility. During every routine service, our specialist identifies new pest issues or conditions that may promote pest activity and records them in your Proof of Service Report.

Want to learn how our pest control programs can be tailored to your food processing needs? Contact Assured Environments today!