When you have a restaurant or other type of food business, you need to be hyper aware of the pests that may come in to enjoy a snack. Even if you believe that everything is clean and tidy 100% of the time, it is important to understand that the most common pests that bother businesses in the food industry cannot always be prevented. In the winter, they will seek warm spaces - and your kitchen may be ideal for their new seasonal home. So, in learning about the most common pests in restaurants, you can hopefully prevent future pest problems.

Unfortunately, cockroaches are a common pest for many restaurants across the country. Not only are cockroaches unsightly, creepy, and associated with disease, they can carry all kinds of disease and bacteria. For those with allergies, the bacteria carried around by cockroaches can cause serious allergic reactions. You don’t have to be unclean to contract cockroaches because these pests “hitch hike” from ships and deliveries that come into your restaurant. They quickly hide in dark corners and reproduce incredibly quickly. 

Rodents, including mice and rats, are just as creepy and unsightly as cockroaches - especially if you run a clean, safe restaurant for your customers. Mice and rats not only carry bacteria and disease, but also cause property damage, from kitchen equipment, product packaging, and food packaging to get into a potential food source. And, unfortunately, mice don’t enter the front door, but can fit through impossibly small holes and cracks in windows, doors, and around your building. Like cockroaches, mice breed incredibly fast.

The last thing you want to see as you enjoy coffee or a meal is a buzzing fly - or flies. However, for many restaurant owners, flies can sneak their way in and potentially scare away your customers. Flies enter your restaurant through open doors, windows, and even those impossibly small cracks around the property. Flies are difficult to control, and love to live around trash, drains, and other food storage. Flies are particularly problematic in summer, so if you see them seasonally, prepare yourself beforehand.

When it comes to food safety pest control in Albany, you can help remedy - or get ahead - of the situation by better understanding the most common pests you’ll see in your restaurant. Working with a professional to get ahead of any pest infestations is also a great idea, i.e., scheduling pest control services once a month, quarterly, or annually based on your needs and concerns.