Solutions To Fly Control Problems in Food Service: There is nothing that will turn my stomach more than flies on my food in a restaurant. Just the thought of it makes me sick. The truth is, flies are filthier than a cockroach and carry more disease-causing pathogens.
To get rid of a housefly you need to know that it a fast breeder. The female can lay up to 150 eggs at a time on 5-6 day intervals. Housefly populations can literally explode in just a few short weeks. Eggs are commonly laid in rotting garbage and moist areas. The house fly life cycle can complete itself in as little as 3-5 days with adult flies living for up to 1-2 months on average. Several generations of flies can be produced in 1 season.
Recently Orkin released results from a survey that stated
- 61 percent of people would continue eating after a fly touched and contaminated their food
- Only 3 percent would do the same if a cockroach crawled on it
Every time a fly lands, it spreads its many germs that can cause serious illness such as food poisonings, diarrhea, and meningitis. Additionally, a fly can cover about 50 times the area as a cockroach in one hour!
The survey also says that flies are a common pest in restaurants, along with cockroaches and rodents.
- 50 percent saw a pest in the restaurant in the past 12 months
- 95 percent of those sightings included flies
- 75 percent of those sightings went unreported because restaurant patrons do not consider flies a major problem
Flies are a major problem and most Health Departments will give demerits on their reports if they notice the problem.
The way to get rid of flies is first to control their entrance into your facility. Normally that is the back door, which is usually near the dumpster.
The manager of each shift should check the dumpster area and make sure that:
- Lids are closed
- Employees are being careful to get everything in the dumpster and not around it
- During warmer weather you can clean with a hose and water; however, be careful that no standing water remains after, since this could make the problem worse
- That debris is being put into a plastic liner first and that the bags are closed properly
- Nearby, you put up some kind of flypaper system or electric fly light system
If we have established that the back door is where most of the flies are coming in you can consider
- Getting a commercial plastic curtain that attaches via Velcro
- Using an air curtain system that pushes air from the ceiling when the back door opens. The pushed air reduces the chance of a fly being able to fly in
- As simple as just turning on a fan nearby, when deliveries come in or garbage is taken out
- Some kind of fly light system or even using a flypaper system again
Inside your facility, if you keep your sanitation standard high and have employees clean up after themselves, you will not give flies a place to feed or breed. Beware of leaving any moist conditions overnight and that can possibly include laundry if you have one.
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Tips to consider keeping flies away:
- Cleaning countertops with soap and sanitizers
- Cleaning up spills immediately
- Making sure mop buckets are emptied at night and wet mops are hung up
- Storage of most foods in airtight containers
- Trash cans having lids
- Soiled laundry handled properly
The use of aerosol chemicals can be used, however, check with your local health department first. I frequently see restaurants spray the dining rooms early in the morning, near the windows since they are attracted to the light. Do not use the spray in those areas if you have glasses and silverware out.
If you feel they are coming in through the front door, then police the area outside and find out what is attracting them.
Finally and most importantly, bring the problem to the attention of both your pest elimination and chemical provider. They have many years’ experience and can offer their assistance as well.
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