Pest control in the kitchen
Why it's necessary and how to do it
Flies in the kitchen. Mouse droppings in the storage room. You can keep your kitchen as clean as possible, but when it’s warm outside, flies will drift in unless you take preventive measures. And anyone running a charming restaurant in an old historic city center knows from experience that mice are nearly impossible to keep away. Still, you must do everything you can to prevent further spread.
Mice, flies, and other pests (cockroaches, rats, and all other animals that cause nuisance) are not allowed by law in areas where food and drinks are prepared, handled, or stored. Your guests must be able to trust that your food is safe. That’s why you must control animals that can spread diseases and pose a risk to public health. But how do you do that?
Henk Groenendijk, one of our inspectors and trainers, shares his tips.
Flies
“Flies are difficult to prevent, especially in nice weather. You may want to open a door or window — just make sure there’s always a screen in place. You can also control insects by trapping them. It’s important that the insect remains as intact as possible, so no parts end up in your food. There are many types of electric fly traps available. We can advise you on which type suits your situation best.
In summer, fruit flies can be a huge nuisance. They’re attracted to yeast, such as in discarded fruit or the last bit of beer in a bottle. Do you have a storage room or crate area where empty beer and soda bottles are kept? Rinse them under the tap before storing them. You can also make a fruit fly trap: simply fill a bottle with a small layer of lemonade and place it strategically. Commercial fruit fly traps are also available at wholesalers.”
Mice
“Mice are very common, especially in city centers with old buildings full of cracks and openings. A mouse only needs 1 square centimeter to slip into your kitchen — or run past your guests’ legs. You definitely want to avoid that! The structural condition of your building directly affects food safety.
We advise customers who don’t yet have mouse problems to seal all cracks and holes preventively with steel wool scouring pads. Mice can chew through the material, but the loose steel fibers feel uncomfortable to them, so they give up quickly.
Do you already have mice? You may use a trap. If that doesn’t help, you must hire a professional pest controller. You are not allowed to use poison or glue boards. And a cat? We see it often in practice. It works — but it’s not allowed. A cat in the kitchen simply isn’t hygienic.”
Would you like more tips from Henk?
During our training sessions, Henk and his colleagues cover all aspects of safe food handling. And of course, they answer all your questions and share practical tips you can apply right away.