Food Matters

Food Pests

Food pests can come in various shapes and sizes - from the very small (Psocids - book lice that can infest domestic kitchen cupboards) to the large (rats). The common denominator of food pests is that they can live in or on man's food, and can contaminate, damage or otherwise spoil human foodstuffs. Food pests can contaminate food physically (e.g. with hair, fur, droppings, eggs, larvae, live and dead bodies) and microbiologically (with food poisoning bugs such as Salmonella, E. coli O157 and Campylobacter).

Pests need to be controlled for the following reasons:

• to prevent the spread of disease
• to prevent the loss of stock/production/facilities/reputation/custom/profits/staff
• to comply with legislation and avoid being prosecuted and fined or closed down

This section covers the major pests that might affect food premises - including rodents, cockroaches, flies, ants and the more common stored product pests.

Please use the links below for more information.

• AUSTRALIAN SPIDER BEETLES
• BOOKLICE (Psocids)
• COCKROACHES
• FIREBRATS
• FLIES
• RODENTS (RATS & MICE)
• SAW TOOTHED GRAIN BEETLE
• SILVERFISH

Nuneaton and Bedworth gratefully acknowledge the interest and support of Rentokil Pest Control in the development of the Food Matters website.

Rentokil can also be contacted on their freephone number - 0800 389 7679 or by email - info@rentokilpestcontrol.co.uk

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