Signs of Pests in Food

Discovering pests in your stored cupboard foodstuffs can be distressing. Owing to the risk of contamination they will most likely spoil and damage any food into which they come in contact. In your home, this may mean you throw out some stored flour or sugar but in your business, the financial loss from damaged goods will be much higher.

It is important to be able to identify the earliest signs of a problem to enable a quick solution and a guaranteed control measure which prevents a re-infestation.

Common signs of stored product insects (SPIs) include:

• damage to stored product live or dead insects (small beetles and moths), larvae, pupae or silken webbing on food storage bins on shelves
• infestation, holes, larvae or webbing on the outside of packets or bags
• larvae, pupae or silk webbing in food harbourages in cracks and crevices around shelves or on machinery
• larvae, pupae or silk webbing in food spillages
• larvae, pupae or silk webbing on beams and window sills
• Indications of the pests in insects traps or rodent stations

If you suspect a problem, it is also worth knowing where these pests may be hiding. Stored product insects can live in dried products such as:

• Stored grain
• Dried fruits
• Milled and processed cereal products
• Sweets
• Cheese
• Meat and any other dried food
• Dry ginger
• Dried fish

If you are worried about stored grain insects, a professional service can help to get rid of pests in food effectively.

At Rentokil, we have unmatched experience when it comes to protecting food clients. We take a three-phase approach that provides rigorous protection for your business. The three steps include:

1. Reducing the probability of stored product pests entering the premises
2. Regular vigilant inspections and monitoring
3. Control using approved pesticides to prevent, manage and eliminate pests

Contact us to find out how our professional solutions can help to keep your business safe from stored product insects.