Prevention & Control Measures for a Rodent-free Restaurant

As a business operating in the F&B industry, it is important to ensure top hygiene practices are adopted to provide good and non-contaminated food and drinks to your customers. Therefore, a rodent infestation would be a nightmare to you as a business owner as it has the potential to harm both customers and your brand's reputation. Additionally, it could even lead to a potential lawsuit against your establishment.

Since rats rummage through garbage and travel through sewers, they are known to carry various harmful bacterias, viruses and diseases. Even if they do not eat your products, their presence contaminates your items. And if they urinate or defecate on it, it would not be sanitary to serve your customers. Therefore, it is vital that you keep your restaurant insect-free and that's possible by following the prevention and removal measures mentioned below:

• Carefully Examine Your Property:

  Even if you specifically chose to open your restaurant at a location that doesn't have many rodent issues, it is essential that you thoroughly and effectively inspect your restaurant for rodents and other insects every 2 - 3 weeks. Even if your area isn't susceptible to rodent infestations, it is possible that they could be drawn to your property due to the ample provision of food, water and shelter, making it the perfect location for them to hide and stay.

  The primary locations to check for a rodent infestation is in the food and beverage storage room, under the storage shelves and counters, etc. You should also look for signs that indicate an active infestation such as:

  • Droppings, random holes, rodent hair and other physical signs
  • Chewed up plastic, wires, food items, packaging, etc
  • Scratches on wooden counters, pipes, walls, and other materials
  • Hearing rummaging through your garbage, scratching or gnawing on something.

  If you notice these signs, you should contact a pest removal company as soon as possible and get your restaurant inspected.

• Block Potential Entryways:

  There are many ways for rodents to gain access to your property. Often, rats or mice enter places through tiny holes or cracks in the property or by climbing up the drainage systems. Make sure you check for any holes in your structure and even if you do find any, you should effectively seal them up quickly. If your open drainage system is their entry route, you should install a security mesh on it to prevent rats from accessing it.

  Additionally, if they are entering through the unguarded main door or windows, you can install a mesh to keep them at bay. If you already examined these entryways and haven't found the actual entryway, then you should even check with your delivery partners and see if they are gaining access to your restaurant through these deliveries.

  Lastly, if you still haven't found the entryway and want to get rid of rodents quickly, call for an expert and get your restaurant inspected professionally.

• Control Food & Water Sources:

  Beside homes, restaurants are among the most common properties that are susceptible to rodent infestation due to easy access to food and water. Therefore, the best way to keep them out of your restaurant or around the property is to eliminate any waste and stagnant water lying around in the kitchen. You should also control the accessibility to water and food.

  For example, store away food accurately in air tight containers, get rid of crumbs and maintain good hygiene in and around your property. Fixing any leakage in your draining system or kitchen faucets would be ideal along with ensuring your floor and counters are dry and clean.

• Opt For Professional Pest Control:

  Rodent infestations are one of the most problematic and challenging infestations to deal with because of the risk they pose to businesses, property owners, and people. Rats are also known for returning to the area once they know they can sneak their way back into your property, making it challenging to effectively eliminate an infestation.

  The best and most effective way to get rid of insects is by contacting your local and reliable removal company and opting for a professional removal service to sanitize your restaurant and make it insect-free. It is also advisable that you choose a removal plan for overall pest removal and timely visits and inspections to check for any activity or recurrence of an infestation. Doing so would not only give you peace of mind but also save you from experiencing financial loss and client complaints because of rodent infestations.