When you’re a restaurant owner, you have a lot on your plate. There are many challenges that come along with owning a restaurant, and you don’t want to add another concern on top of everything else you’re in charge of. Pest infestations can be a serious issue for business owners, and this is especially true for those in the restaurant business.
Some of the most common pests that restaurants deal with are cockroaches. These pests can have customers leaving in droves and writing bad reviews. Also, a cockroach problem can lead to safety and health violations that cause major headaches for you.
There are many different kinds of cockroaches, but one of the most common in New Jersey restaurants is the German cockroach. This is the most common species throughout the world, so it’s helpful to know how to identify it.
These characteristics set this species apart:
- A light brown to tan color
- Have two dark, parallel stripes on their heads and backs
- An oval shape
- Have long antennae
Restaurants and German Cockroach Issues
German cockroaches are quite common in commercial as well as residential buildings. The conditions of a restaurant are appealing to this type of pest as the environment provides the things they need to survive. German cockroaches are attracted to warm, humid areas that provide easy access to food and water. This is why they tend to gather in kitchens and bathrooms. All of the food and moisture present in a restaurant is appealing to German cockroaches.
Prevention Tips
The best way to deal with an infestation is to keep one from occurring in the first place. There are some preventive measures you can take to reduce the likelihood of German cockroaches getting into your business.
- Good sanitation is key. Keep kitchens especially clean.
- Make sure to clean up crumbs, wipe up spills, and vacuum or sweep the kitchen and food prep areas often.
- Don’t let dishes pile up in your restaurant sink.
- Try to seal up entry points around utility pipes and fill up any holes in the walls or foundation.
- Ventilate crawl spaces if there are any.
- Make sure the environment isn’t too humid.
- Store all garbage in tightly sealed containers and as far away from your outer walls as possible.
Risks of Cockroach Infestations in a Restaurant
Dealing with cockroaches in a restaurant is not just frustrating, it’s also dangerous. Even seeing one cockroach can cause customers to not want to return, and even a few cockroaches can lead to the spread of diseases and germs in food-prep areas.
The risks of German cockroaches include:
- Spreading diseases such as salmonella and E.coli
- Contaminating food sources and food-prep areas. Roaches carry germs from bathrooms and garbage around on their bodies.
- Triggering allergic reactions and asthma attacks in some people
- A cockroach problem can lead to your restaurant being shut down because of health code violations
Keeping Your Restaurant Safe
At the first sign of a cockroach infestation, it’s important to seek professional pest control help. Arrow Pest Control is able to eliminate German cockroaches as well as other types of pests. We will work with you to create an individualized plan for your business to eliminate the current infestation and prevent a recurring problem. Give us a call today to learn about how our experienced technicians can help your restaurant with cockroach problems.
