"Closed due to inadequate pest control.”

These words invoke fear, embarrassment and guilt in the food service industry. Restaurants, retail stores, hotels and other businesses involved with food service are constantly being scrutinized by public health inspectors to ensure these premises are well managed and free of pest infestation.

Public health inspectors play an important role in making sure the public is protected from disease and foodborne pathogens, something that rodents, birds and insects can readily spread. It is the responsibility of the food service industry and pest management professionals to work together to provide safe food premises and ensure the public’s health.

Typically, restaurant closures are triggered when a public health inspector conducts a regularly scheduled inspection of the premise and finds established rodent or cockroach activity or contaminated food on food contact surfaces. However, a restaurant closure may also occur when a member of the public or a store employee reports pest activity to the public health department and the subsequent inspection verifies the report.

Restaurant owners and operators can take a variety of steps to prevent a public health inspection closure.

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Reprinted with permission from FoodService News.