Signs to look for

  • Mice: dark droppings about ¼ inch. Rats: ½–¾ inch. Look along walls, under equipment, in drawers.
  • Gnaw marks on packages, wood, pipes or wires
  • Nests of shredded paper or fabric; greasy rub marks along walls
  • Cockroaches: pepper-like droppings, egg cases (brown capsules), an oily or musty smell
  • Flies near trash, drains or doors; fruit flies near produce or the mop sink
  • Beetles, moths or webbing in flour, rice or cereal
  • Ant trails to food or water

Sources: Source protocols: inspection checklist (signs of rodents, cockroaches, flies and other insects)

What to do

  • Any sign of mice, rats or roaches: act now. Protect or throw out affected food, clean the area, and call the pest control operator the same day.
  • Flies or ants in food areas: act within 24 hours.
  • Insects in food: throw that food out and check the stock around it.
  • Remove dead or trapped pests promptly and clean the area.
  • Log what you saw, where, and what you did.

Sources: Source protocols: action thresholds · Food Code 6-501.112

What NOT to do

  • Never spray or put out poison yourself. Only a licensed pest control operator applies pesticides.
  • No loose bait. Rodent bait goes only in covered, tamper-resistant bait stations.
  • No tracking powder in food areas.
  • No bug spray near uncovered food. Pesticides are never used over open food, clean dishes or utensils.
  • Insect light traps never hang over food prep, food storage or clean equipment.
  • Don't touch bats, birds or droppings.

Sources: Food Code 7-202.12 · Food Code 7-206.12 · Food Code 7-206.13 · Food Code 6-202.13 · R392-102-13(6), (7), (9) · Source protocols: incident first steps (pest sighting)

Keep pest records

Keep for at least 1 year:

  • Service reports and the trap map
  • Trap checks and pest sighting logs
  • A record of every pesticide use: product, EPA registration number, amount, place, date, applicator and license number
  • The SDS and label for each product used

Sources: Source protocols: IPM evaluation and records (keep for at least one year)

The rules behind it

  • Pest control. Keep premises free of pests: inspect deliveries and the building, remove harborage, licensed operator only for pesticides. Food Code 6-501.111, 6-501.112, 7-206.12; R392-102-13