Food Processing Pest Control

Food Manufacturing and Processing Pest Control

In food manufacturing and processing locations most managers opt for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) services. IPM Services take a conservative approach to pest control. The various strategies and monitoring involved in an IPM approach require a more time intensive investment.

Cypress Creek Pest Control has AIB Certified Technicians and services locations with SQF,YUM, BRC and other auditing standards that our programs far exceed.

While pesticides can play a key role in IPM programs by their very nature most pesticides pose some risk. They are powerful tools for controlling pests but need to be used carefully and judiciously.

The two overall methods of maintaining food safety are the corrective method – eliminating the undesirable situation when a condition has been discovered; and the preventive method – anticipate undesirable conditions that may occur and take preventative measures.

The process utilizes regular monitoring to determine if and when treatment is needed. Treatments are not made on a pre-determined schedule that is typically uses in traditional pest control services. The individual components of IPM include: inspection, monitoring, assessment, treatment and evaluation. There is also an educational aspect of IPM. It may require retraining employees on sanitary measures, such as: no food outside of break room areas, cleaning product spills immediately, proper storage of raw materials and other measures.

Remedial action does not always include a chemical response. Cypress Creek Pest Control may suggest a range of solutions including:

• Education of staff – which may include new policies on bringing food into certain areas, or limiting food to a certain area. The Cypress Creek Technician may suggest better clean up of food residues and that trash be properly disposed of
• Redesign efforts may include rat-proofing, different types of trash receptacles or use of lighting that doesn’t attract insects
• Maintenance activities and habitat modification can be suggested to eliminate water sources that pose an attractive habitat for pests. It may be suggested the plant use more aggressive caulking of cracks, screening vents, better cleaning procedures and repair of water leaks
• Physical control would be in place. This would include things such as traps for rats and mice, pheromone traps and the like. Our qualified technician will be able to advise you of proper protocols and placement of traps. He or she will know even if a pheromone trap hasn’t caught any insects, the placement may need to be adjusted
• Chemical solution will be suggested as a last resort starting with non-toxic and lastly chemical applications

The objective is a facility free of insect and rodent evidence as well as products free of extraneous materials and bacteria. Our Cypress Creek technicians will provide you with detailed reports of all findings and trends.