Food Safety Level 2 Section 7 Unit 1 Common Types of Pests

The Training Centre

14 Mar 201804:02

Summary

TLDRThis script highlights the importance of preventing food pest infestations in establishments. It discusses common pests like mice, rats, flies, cockroaches, ants, and birds, which can contaminate food with bacteria and physical matter. The summary emphasizes signs of infestation and preventive measures, such as maintaining cleanliness, using protective screens, and adhering to stock rotation and FIFO principles.

Takeaways

🐀 Mice and rats are common pests in food establishments, living in sewers or around buildings, and can be identified by droppings, gnaw marks, and damage to wiring and packaging.
🐭 To prevent rodent infestations, it's crucial to remove waste promptly, use bins with tight lids, maintain cleanliness, and repair any damage to pipes and vents.
🕊 Flies can contaminate food by landing on unsanitary surfaces and then on food, spreading bacteria. Signs include eggs, maggots, and dead flies.
🚫 Measures against flies include installing fly screens, using ultraviolet killers, sticky paper, and ensuring bins are covered and regularly cleaned.
🪳 Cockroaches prefer warm, dirty environments and can be a sign of poor hygiene. They can be detected by the presence of eggs, unusual smells, and damage to products.
🧹 Keeping areas clean, storing food in sealed containers, and maintaining cleanliness in waste areas are essential to prevent cockroach infestations.
🐜 Ants are attracted to unprotected food and can be a sign of infestation. Immediate clean-up of food spills and reporting sightings is necessary.
🐦 Birds carry pathogens and can damage food. Protecting windows and doors, using mist nets, and rejecting damaged food deliveries are preventive measures.
🐞 Dry storage pests like weevils can infest flour and other goods. They are harmless as eggs but can damage food as they grow.
📅 Adhering to use-by or best-before dates, storing food in cool, dry, sealable containers, and following FIFO (First-In, First-Out) stock control rules can prevent infestation by dry storage pests.
🏭 Regular inspections and maintaining a clean environment are vital after an outbreak of pests to ensure that no eggs or pests remain.

Q & A

What are food pests and why are they a concern?
-Food pests are insects or animals that live on or in human food. They are a concern because they can contaminate food with bacteria, diseases, and physical contaminants like droppings, urine, fur, feathers, and dead bodies.
Why are food establishments particularly vulnerable to pest infestations?
-Food establishments are vulnerable to pest infestations because they provide ideal conditions for pests, such as food, warmth, shelter, and water.
What are some signs of mice or rats infestation in a food establishment?
-Signs of mice or rats include droppings, gnaw marks, greasy marks on pipes and woodwork, damage to wiring, damage to products or packaging, and the smell of urine. Sightings of live or dead mice or rats are also indicative of an infestation.
What measures can be taken to safeguard against mice and rats in food establishments?
-To safeguard against mice and rats, one should remove waste promptly, fit bins with tight-fitting lids, clean bin areas, repair taps and pipe work, clear food spills, rotate stock, and report sightings to supervisors for pest control.
How do flies contaminate food and what are the signs of their presence?
-Flies contaminate food by landing on animal feces and rotting food, collecting bacteria on their bodies, and causing cross-contamination from food to food. Signs of their presence include housefly eggs, maggots, live or dead flies.
What precautions should be taken to prevent flies from contaminating food in food establishments?
-Preventative measures include installing fly screens or mesh on doors and windows, using ultraviolet fly killers, placing sticky fly paper, sanding storerooms, covering all food, positioning bins away from windows and doors, and regularly emptying and cleaning bins.
What are the characteristics and signs of cockroach infestations?
-Cockroaches prefer warm and dirty places and are nocturnal. They can hatch from eggs in about two months, with each egg case carrying 10 to 30 eggs. Signs of infestation include live or dead cockroaches and an unusual smell, as well as damage to products or packaging.
How can food establishments protect against cockroach infestations?
-To protect against cockroaches, establishments should keep all rooms clean, clean up spills, store food in sealed containers, and keep rubbish and waste areas clean. After an outbreak, regular inspections are required as eggs can hatch later.
What are ants attracted to and how can their presence be managed in food establishments?
-Ants are attracted to unprotected food. To manage their presence, food should be covered, and any food spills should be cleaned up immediately. Sightings should be reported to a supervisor for nest removal.
Why are birds a concern in food establishments and what can be done to safeguard against them?
-Birds carry pathogens and can cause damage to food. To safeguard against birds, windows and doors should be protected, and mist nets may be used in warehouses to catch or remove birds. Damaged food should be rejected, and birds should not be fed near food handling areas.
What are dry store pests like weevils and how can their presence be detected and managed?
-Dry store pests such as weevils are found in flour and other dry goods. They are harmless in the egg stage but can infest food during growth. Signs of their presence include visual sightings and damage to food. To manage them, use food within the use-by or best-before date, store in sealable containers in cool, dry areas, and follow the FIFO (first-in, first-out) stock control rule.

Outlines

00:00

🐭 Food Pests and Their Control Measures

The first paragraph discusses the common types of pests found in food establishments, such as insects and animals that can contaminate food with bacteria and diseases, or cause physical contamination with their waste. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining cleanliness to prevent infestations. Mice and rats are highlighted as pests that can multiply rapidly and leave signs like droppings and damage to structures and food products. To safeguard against these pests, it suggests removing waste, fitting bins with tight lids, repairing plumbing, and contacting pest control services. Flies are also mentioned as carriers of bacteria that can cause cross-contamination, with the recommendation to use fly screens and other deterrents to keep them away from food.

🪲 Insects and Their Impact on Food Safety

This section focuses on insects like cockroaches and ants that are attracted to food and can cause contamination. Cockroaches prefer warm, dirty places and can take up to two months to hatch from eggs, with each egg case carrying multiple eggs. Signs of their presence include live or dead cockroaches and unusual smells. To prevent infestations, it is advised to keep areas clean, store food in sealed containers, and conduct regular inspections. Ants are also mentioned as pests that can be attracted by unprotected food, and immediate action is recommended upon sighting to locate and deal with their nests.

🕊️ Birds and Their Role in Food Contamination

Birds are discussed as carriers of pathogens that can contaminate food and cause damage. Signs of bird presence include sightings, droppings, and feathers. To safeguard against bird contamination, it is recommended to protect windows and doors with nets and to reject damaged food deliveries due to the risk of contamination. Additionally, feeding birds near food handling areas should be avoided.

🐛 Dry Store Product Pests and Preventive Practices

The final paragraph addresses pests such as weevils that are found in dry goods like flour. These pests are generally harmless in their egg stage but can infest food during their growth. Signs of their presence include visual sightings and damage to food. To prevent infestation, it is suggested to use food within its use-by or best-before date, store food in sealable containers in cool, dry areas, and follow the FIFO (first-in, first-out) stock control rule to ensure older stock is used first.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Food Pests

Food pests refer to insects or animals that infest human food, potentially contaminating it with bacteria, diseases, or physical matter like droppings, urine, fur, feathers, or dead bodies. They are central to the video's theme, which is the importance of pest control in food establishments to ensure hygiene and safety. Examples from the script include mice, rats, flies, cockroaches, ants, and birds, all of which can contaminate food if not properly managed.

💡Contamination

Contamination in the context of the video refers to the presence of harmful substances or organisms that can make food unsafe for consumption. It is a critical issue because it directly affects the quality of food and can lead to health risks. The script mentions various forms of contamination caused by pests, such as bacteria from flies or physical contamination from droppings of rodents.

💡Pest Infestations

Pest infestations are the invasion of an area by pests in large numbers, which can lead to significant problems in food establishments. The video emphasizes the need to prevent and control infestations to avoid health hazards and damage to food products. The script describes signs of infestations, such as droppings or damage to food and packaging.

💡Mice and Rats

Mice and rats are common pests that can infest food establishments, often living in sewers or around buildings. They are known to multiply rapidly and can cause damage to wiring and food products. The script mentions signs of their presence, such as droppings and greasy marks, and the importance of removing waste and repairing any damage to prevent infestations.

💡Flies

Flies are insects that can land on unsanitary surfaces, collect bacteria on their bodies, and then transfer these to food, causing cross-contamination. The video discusses the importance of preventing flies from accessing food areas to maintain cleanliness. Measures such as fly screens and sticky fly paper are suggested as part of safeguarding practices.

💡Cockroaches

Cockroaches are nocturnal pests that thrive in warm and dirty places. They can contaminate food and cause damage to products or packaging. The video highlights the signs of cockroach infestation, such as the presence of live or dead cockroaches and unusual smells, and the importance of keeping areas clean and conducting regular inspections.

💡Ants

Ants, though small, can be a nuisance in food establishments, attracted by unprotected food and causing contamination. The script suggests that immediate action should be taken when ants are sighted, such as covering food and cleaning up spills to prevent them from becoming a larger issue.

💡Birds

Birds can carry pathogens and cause damage to food products. The video mentions that visual sightings, droppings, and feathers are signs of bird presence, which can indicate potential contamination. Safeguarding measures include protecting windows and doors and using mist nets in warehouses to prevent bird entry.

💡Weevils

Weevils are small beetles that can infest dry food products like flour. They are generally harmless in their egg stage but can damage food as they grow. The script advises using food within its use-by or best-before date and storing it in sealed containers to prevent weevil infestation.

💡Stock Control

Stock control is an essential practice in food establishments to prevent overstock and ensure that food is used before it becomes unsafe. The video mentions the FIFO (First-In, First-Out) rule as a key stock control method to maintain the freshness and safety of food products.

💡Sanitation

Sanitation is the process of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in food establishments. The video underscores the importance of sanitation in preventing pest infestations and food contamination. Examples from the script include cleaning up spills, storing food in sealed containers, and regularly inspecting areas for signs of pests.

Highlights

Food pests are insects or animals that can contaminate food with bacteria, diseases, droppings, urine, fur, feathers, and dead bodies.

Food establishments provide ideal conditions for pests with food, warmth, shelter, and water.

Proper maintenance is crucial to avoid pest infestations in food establishments.

Mice and rats live in sewers or nests around buildings and can multiply rapidly.

Signs of mice and rats include droppings, gnaw marks, greasy marks, damage to wiring, and products.

To safeguard against mice and rats, remove waste, fit bins with tight lids, clean bin areas, repair plumbing, and report sightings.

Flies can cause cross-contamination by landing on animal feces and rotting food.

Signs of flies include eggs, maggots, and dead flies.

To prevent fly infestations, use fly screens, mesh, ultraviolet killers, sticky paper, and cover bins.

Cockroaches prefer warm, dirty places and are nocturnal.

Cockroach eggs can hatch over two months, with each egg case carrying 10-30 eggs.

Signs of cockroaches include live or dead insects and unusual smells.

To prevent cockroach infestations, keep areas clean, store food in sealed containers, and regularly inspect after an outbreak.

Ants are attracted to unprotected food and can be a sign of infestation.

To safeguard against ants, cover food and clean up spills immediately, reporting sightings to a supervisor.

Birds carry pathogens and can cause damage to food; signs include sightings, droppings, and feathers.

To protect against bird infestations, secure windows and doors, use mist nets, and reject damaged food deliveries.

Dry storage pests like weevils can be found in flour and other dry goods.

Signs of weevil infestation include visual sightings and damage to food.

To prevent weevil infestations, use food within use-by dates, store in sealed containers, and follow FIFO stock control.