Restaurants and Food Services

Home / Pest Control Tips & Advice / Restaurants and Food Services

Restaurants and food services offer a perfect place for pests to dine

Keeping a culture of cleanliness in the kitchen can be hard. But for restaurant owners and operators it’s crucial, as poor sanitation efforts can lead to outbreaks of foodborne illness.

Disinfection is key to ensuring a safe space for both your employees and customers. We have a webinar that would benefit your business both in the short and long term, just click here.

But one factor that is often forgotten when it comes to preventing an outbreak is pests. Pests such as flies, rats and cockroaches not only transmit pathogens, but they can also cause gastrointestinal irritations and allergic reactions.

Not to mention the impact that a pest sighting can have on your business’ reputation.

To avoid a situation that could lead to a foodborne illness, here is our guide to the top pests to look out for and how to prevent them invading.

Rodents

For restaurant owners, a mouse or rat infestation can be devastating, ruining your reputation, and potentially destroying your ability to operate at all.

Rodents often enter when doors are left open and will eat almost anything, making a restaurant a very attractive option for these pests.

To prevent a rodent infestation, you first need to be able to identify when you have a problem.

Gnaw marks on electrical wiring, rub marks along the base of walls and tiny holes in the wall near the floor are all signs of rodent activity. You also may notice small, pellet-like droppings.

To combat rodents in your commercial operation:

  • Conduct regular maintenance to ensure there are no openings for the rodents to get in.
  • Ask your staff to stay alert, the quicker they report a sighting the quicker the problem can be dealt with.
  • If you are worried about rodents call in the experts. It’s much easier to prevent them from setting up shop in your business than deal with the fallout if they do.

 

Cockroaches

Cockroaches seek out restaurants and food service businesses, as reliable sources of warm, damp shelter close to food and water. Once there, cockroaches will scavenge virtually anything.

Cockroaches create an unsanitary situation and can pose various health threats to humans. Eating food contaminated by cockroaches may cause food poisoning, these pests can also spread harmful bacteria by crawling through garbage and sewers to food preparation surfaces.

To stop cockroaches invading:

  • Follow a strict daily sanitation routine.
  • Seal entry points around your facility.
  • Inspect incoming supplies, especially any corrugated boxes.
  • Regularly inspect your premises for signs of activity.
  • Periodically inspect and clean employee lockers.
  • Use organic cleaners to help eliminate the grease and grime pests feed on and breed in.
  • Implement a deep-cleaning schedule and assign staff specific roles to ensure cleanliness is a constant priority.
  • Take out trash and rotate trash cans regularly.

Ants

Ants are attracted by food and water, and enter businesses through the tiniest of cracks to scavenge for edible items.

Controlling them can be difficult. But not only are ants unsightly and a nuisance, they can also cause serious damage to your operation.

To prevent an invasion from ants this:

  • Keep your facility sanitary and maintain a strict cleaning schedule.
  • Use organic cleaners to help eliminate the grease and grime pests feed on and breed in.
  • Implement a deep-cleaning schedule and assign staff specific roles to ensure cleanliness is a constant priority.
  • Regularly empty trash cans.
  • Frequently used trash cans should be power-washed once a month to get rid of residual trash and odours.
  • Regularly inspect your premises for ants.
  • Keep the structure well maintained, repair all cracks in walls and foundations, and keep doors, windows, and entry points sealed.

Flies

Flies are looking for somewhere moist and warm to breed and feed. In kitchens and food preparation areas fruit flies can be a common problem, as can drain flies and phorid flies that like to live in or around drains and under equipment.

Flies can easily spread disease, putting your employees and diners at risk, and rendering your food inedible.

To prevent a mass invasion of flies:

  • Keep your facility sanitary and maintain a strict cleaning schedule.
  • All breeding sites must be identified. Inspect bars, mop drain, floor drains, dish area, dry stockroom, and inside trash cans and trash carts for decaying organic matter.
  • Check for condensation around ice machines.
  • Thoroughly clean and dry out any areas with decaying matter to help prevent problems with small flies.

Moths

Indian meal moth larvae will consume seeds, grains, cereals, dehydrated herbs, and dried pet food, making restaurants and food service facilities a highly attractive location for these pests.

These larvae can make pantry products unfit for consumption. Accidental ingestion of moth cocoons or larvae can even cause gastrointestinal irritation and an upset stomach.

To guard against an infestation of Indian meal moths:

  • Store pantry items in airtight containers.
  • Vacuum up spilled foods promptly.
  • Use pheromone traps.
  • Look out for the silk webbing left behind by the larvae.

Beetles

Grain beetles are pervasive in businesses across Canada, attracted to nearly any stored food product, particularly cereals, breakfast foods, flour, dried fruits and meats, pet foods, and many other items. Meanwhile, flour beetles survive Canadian winters feeding on finely milled starches like flour and meal.

A beetle infestation makes pantry products unfit for consumption, while the sight of the beetles themselves can alarm people.

To stop grain and flour beetles invading:

  • Inspect cereals, flour, cake mixes, and noodles regularly for signs of infestation.
  • Store all milled grain and starches in airtight glass, metal, or heavy plastic containers.
  • Keep food storage areas clean and sanitary.
Icone d'un insecte

Commercial Services

Fortify your business with industry-leading pest management and expertise

Commercial Services
Residential Services
icone de satisfaction

Our Commercial Triple Guarantee

Resolving your pest problem is our #1 priority. If re-treatment is required, we'll provide immediate services at no extra cost. If your expectations are not met, we guarantee a full refund of your service payment.

24-Hour Response Guarantee

When you see a pest, you need service right away. Orkin Canada will respond to your request within 24 hours.

Satisfaction Guarantee

If you are not completely satisfied with a regularly scheduled treatment, we will re-treat the area, or refund your last monthly payment.

Reimbursement Guarantee

If your company is fined by a regulatory agency due solely to a pest infestation, Orkin Canada will reimburse you for up to 6 months of service.*
*Your account must be current, under contract for more than 60 days, and you must be compliant with sanitation and structural requests as noted in Orkin Canada's service reports.

icone d'un coeur

What our customers have to say

Jason Retail

Our technician is awesome. Thanks for making the transition easy. Love the metrics and transparency of the program.

Herb R. Hospitality

Our technician was very informative and took the time to explain the problem I was having with rodents and how they react to Orkin's product. His personal care made my situation so much easier.

Elaine C.

Our representative is very informative and quickly goes about his work. I am very pleased with his explanation for placing bait stations where he did and so on. Sometimes it is hot and he carries right on with what he has to do. It is a nasty job.

Franchise Manager Food Services

I've been a customer for almost 7 years and Orkin have never been disappointed.

Jag D. Arts

The service manager is great as he has pointed out lots of things I need to do to prevent mice from coming into the building. He is very knowledgeable and knows what he is talking about.

Matthew P. Hospitality

I'm glad to see that you acquired dogs for bed bug solutions. Works very well!!!!!!

Franchise Manager Food Services

Our business requested additional services and the management visited our site to ensure the proper help was given, and was very helpful.

Elizabeth S. Ontario

Our technician is professional and prompt. I appreciate that you seem to limit unnecessary use of pesticides and take precautions to limit my family's exposure.

Cathy F.

The service was great. Fast, friendly and efficient. After spraying my inside baseboards there was just a faint, pleasant smell when I returned after 4 hours. No ants in sight now. Thank you!

Rick M. New Brunswick

Our technician was awesome. He took his time and did a great job, and answered any questions we had. He was very professional and knowledgable.

John C.

Timely response time, courteousness, professionalism. Appointments easy to book and fit in with our schedule.

Arthur C. Ontario

Your guys are very courteous, knowledgable and the rate is comparable to others. Service is fast, efficient.

Karen H. Alberta

Very respectful service. Will go the extra mile to ensure everything is handled. Thank you so much for all your help.

Pat S. PEI

Our technician is attentive, kind, honest and hardworking. We are pleased to have Orkin to help us with pest control. Thanks!

Alejandro B. Newfoundland & Labrador

The technician who did the inspection is very well qualified, friendly, approachable, and professional. Seeing him work is a pleasure. Thanks!

Lois K.

Prompt, courteous, caring and highly professional services. We've been very pleased to take part in the Home Owner Protection Plan for more than 15 years.

Mary O. New Brunswick

I like that you come monthly and it is your scheduled visit. I don't have to remember to call! I appreciate getting the email after your visit, so I know what is going on on the outside of my place.

Lori and Dave D. New Brunswick

We have been loyal customers for over 20 years and couldn't imagine being without the great services offered by Orkin. Being severely allergic to stinging insect bites, I trust only Orkin with our home, and personal safety.

Bev S. British Columbia

My technician was careful, detailed with his work and very pleasant. He was not afraid to climb my difficult property and make extra effort to ensure he had found all of the bait stations. Excellent job, thank you.

Lan P.

Our technician was excellent. Courteous, on time, and thorough. He takes his job seriously and tackles the job as if our home were his own. I would recommend him to friends & neighbours without hesitation.

Bibi Budhram Customer Service Administrator, Mississauga, Ontario

Orkin Canada's passion for pest control shows in everything our team does. Every member of staff receives expert training to succeed in our roles and to deliver the best service to our clients.

Simon Bradley Service Manager, Burnaby, BC

Orkin has given me endless opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. I feel not just apart of a team but also a part of a family.

Dale Kurt Assistant Regional Manager, Toronto, ON

I have worked at Orkin Canada for almost 19 years and have never considered working anywhere else. There are substantial opportunities for advancement for anyone desiring to challenge themselves and both local and national support to complete a job.

Lori Mullins Customer Service Representative, Newfoundland

As a Customer Service Representative, I enjoy providing peace of mind for our customers and solving problems. Orkin also offers excellent training and advancement opportunities for all employees.

Rob Quinn President, Mississauga, Ontario

Orkin is a great place to start and grow your career. I have personally held positions, from technician to management positions, and have enjoyed every step of my journey.

Remove pests from your business, and stop them from coming back

We work hard to listen, understand and assess your unique situation. Request a free, no-obligation consultation today for a customized pest program that fits your needs.

Request a Free Business Consultation
Request a Free Home Estimate