Types Of Pest Contamination In Food
The main reason why pest control is so important is because pests can contaminate food. When this happens many dangerous diseases are spread. Pests contamination in food makes hundreds of people sick each year, and kills dozens more. This is why it’s critically important that all restaurants and takeaways eliminate pests as soon as they are discovered because they cause problems for businesses. But what else should people in the food business know about this serious topic?
The facts about pest contamination in food
Almost all common household pests can be responsible for pest contamination in food. That being said, some pests are worse than others. For example, here are some of the worst pests and the diseases can spread.
1. Rats
Rodents carry a wide variety of bacteria and viruses. These include things like salmonella and E. Coli. They are also know to spread tuberculosis and also leptospirosis. This usually happens when rats defecate or urinate onto or around food. What’s more, these pests also carry things like fleas, mites, and ticks.
2. Cockroaches
Cockroaches are one of the filthiest pests found in nature. Their bodies harbour hundreds of organisms that can cause food poisoning. Something of these organisms can also lead to conditions like dysentery and typhoid. Another problem with cockroaches is that many people are actually allergic to them. These people may experience symptoms such as rashes, nasal drip, watery eyes, and a stuffy nose. In fact, cockroaches are even know to trigger asthma attacks. These pests should be dealt with by calling pest professionals.
3. Birds
Birds can also lead to pest contamination in food. This contamination is spread through their droppings, feathers, and also when they feed. Problem birds are a disease vector for more than 60 conditions. These include things like salmonella and campylobacter. Many birds also carry mites, that can further contaminate food.
4. Stored product insects
Stored product insects are bugs that live in packets of food such as pasta, flour or rice. These are bugs like silverfish, moths, flour weevils, and beetles. Like the insects listed above, they can also cause pest contamination in food.
5. Flies
Flies are highly capable when it comes to spreading disease. Their bodies are riddled with bacteria. Every time a fly lands on food or a surface, this bacteria is deposited. Some of these diseases include salmonella, typhoid, cholera, and also parasitic worms. Flies spread bacteria by vomiting onto food. They do this because they can only eat liquid food, and must use their stomach acid to dissolve this food.
6. Mice
The contamination associated with mice, is very similar to that which is caused by rats. Both rodents can contaminate exposed food, or food they chew their way through the packaging to get to.