Keep the Bugs Away

When people talk about “bugs” in food these days, most of the time they’re referring to a poorly chosen euphemism for bacteria, good or bad, or other live contaminants. There’s not much talk of insect bugs … and with good reason. Food processors have been vigilant about keeping these pests out of their plants.

It’s rare to find a food plant without a contract pest management program these days. Balancing any effort’s effectiveness with the safety of both humans and the food being processed, these programs are probably best left in the hands of trained professionals. And don’t forget the increasing pressure for record-keeping, which can be especially valuable (and believable) when done by a third party.

“Food companies can’t keep up with all the regulations, auditing agency requirements and local, state and federal regulations,” says Jim Sargent, director of technical support and regulatory compliance at Copesan – Specialists in Pest Solutions (www.copesan.com), Menomonee Falls, Wis. “It’s a complex job to give to your maintenance department.” It’s better left to experts, he says.

Ants and cockroaches are just a few of the pests attracted to the multiple food and water sources found in food processing plants. PHOTO: ORKIN COMMERCIAL SERVICES

Leaving trash piled close to building entrances is a sure-fire way to bring pests into your facility. Instead, store trash in dumpsters located far away from the building. PHOTO: ORKIN COMMERCIAL SERVICES

A pest control specialist will install and regularly inspect sticky board traps to monitor pest activity within your facility. PHOTO: ORKIN COMMERCIAL SERVICES

It’s difficult for food plant maintenance departments to keep up with all the regulations from governments and auditing agencies, so most contract with professional pest service companies. PHOTO: COPESAN SERVICES INC.

“The foundation of food safety is a good sanitation program – and pest control is an important part of sanitation,” says Christine Richter, quality systems manager Farbest-Tallman Foods Corp.’s  Plain City, Ohio, manufacturing facility (www.farbest.com)..

“We have an open-door policy for our customers. They can walk in and visit any time they want, which means we have to always maintain a perfectly sanitary plant. But customers are always impressed with our level of sanitation,” she says.

Pest control these days does not even have to involve chemicals. “Our plant’s program uses no pesticides or chemicals, just pheromone traps and bait boxes,” says Larry Phillips, director of production for Endangered Species Chocolate (www.chocolatebar.com), Indianapolis. Which is a good thing, because his company produces both organic and all-natural chocolates.

Organic pest control

The National Organic Program specifies how to perform pest management in an organic facility. First and foremost, non-chemical measures are to be taken before using any pest control chemicals. Only if non-chemical measures are ineffective should the facility move to chemicals on an approved national list.
Non-chemical measures, according to Orkin Commercial Services (www.orkincommercial.com), include:

• Fly lights: Ultraviolet light attracts flying pests to a non-toxic sticky board inside a confined trap unit.
• Sticky boards: These capture crawling pests when placed in areas likely to be attractive to bugs, such as inside storage areas and under equipment.
• Pheromone monitors: Pheromones are secreted chemicals pests use to communicate. Synthetic versions can lure them to a sticky trap; these traps can provide an early warning of the presence of pests in stored product areas.
• Insect growth regulators: IGRs use synthetic versions of insect hormones to prevent pests from reaching full maturity, preventing reproduction and limiting the pest population.
• Repellants: Repellants help move pests to areas where control is easier to achieve. Repellant treatments use a combination of a botanical-based material, pyrethrins and silica gel, an inorganic compound that damages insects’ exoskeletons. When pests encounter this combination, they retreat and the product can cause insects to desiccate.
• Organic cleaners: “Green” cleansers use naturally occurring bacteria and enzymes to break down grease and grime. Use an organic cleaner in and around drains, sinks and garbage disposals to eradicate the grease and grime build-up that serves as a breeding area for flies and other pests.
• Non-volatile baits: These baits use chemical formulations that do not become airborne. Formulated as gels or pastes in small bait pucks, they allow targeted and contained treatment applications.