Finding pests

We all want to avoid having pests in the kitchen and there are a few signs of vermin to look out for. Keep your eyes peeled for:

• droppings
• marks on food
• small mounds of food debris
• nibbled wrappings and holes in containers
• pest carcasses
• unusual smells
• damage to woodwork (Remember, rats and mice gnaw, so you can often detect their presence in this way.)

Food handlers who start early in the morning or are first in the kitchen should be especially vigilant. If you suspect that any food may have been contaminated by pests, then get rid of it. (Tell your supervisor first, if you have one.)

This is Chapter Four, Part Seven in a series of articles broadly similar to the course offered by the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health for its Food Hygiene Certificate.
Part Eight: Getting rid of pests
Return to the start of Chapter Four