What Every Restaurant Owner Needs To Know About Cockroaches

Owning a restaurant means having to wear many hats. From dealing with the electric company to busboys, from knowing the price of salmon to looking over resumes for the open chef position, it can be very challenging. But one thing that is sometimes overlooked is ongoing pest control, and how important it is. In this article, we will take a look at only one pest that can ruin a business. While there are lots of pests that can damage or destroy a restaurant, this one is arguably the most dangerous to the bottom line.

How Are Cockroaches In Restaurants Dangerous?

• Cockroaches are dangerous because they can compact their bodies. It only takes a tiny hole for a young cockroach to squeeze through, especially a young German cockroach which is tiny enough to crawl through the hole in an electrical outlet. Not only can roaches easily squeeze their way into restaurants but, once inside, they can easily make their way from room to room by way of wall voids. And if you are seeing a couple of roaches during the day, it is likely there are hundreds, or thousands, waiting within the walls to come out at night in search of food.
• Cockroaches are dangerous because they impact employee morale. Seeing roaches at a place of employment can have a demoralizing effect on employees, which can lead to increased absenteeism, or workers quitting.
• Cockroaches will lead to a decline in customers. If one customer sees a roach, it is unfortunate to see that one customer leave and never return, but in this day and age of internet review sites, that one customer could cause a large number of customers to not return, or not come at all. Cockroach sightings by customers may also prompt litigation. Even if a customer does not get sick from cockroaches in your restaurant, they can still bring a lawsuit if a roach problem isn't promptly addressed.
• Roaches are dangerous in that they cause illness. Before crawling on kitchen counters, plates, silverware, etc., roaches were likely crawling around in dumpsters, on toilet bowl rims, and in filthy sewers. Because of this, they transport bacteria everywhere they roam.
• Cockroaches are dangerous in that they can cause food to spoil or be contaminated. Adult roaches are able to chew through many food packages, which will, at best, expose it to the air and cause spoilage or, at worst, deposit bacteria which may cause the food to become contaminated.
• Cockroaches can make customers or employees sick. There are several bacteria-related illnesses that roaches are linked to. These include: gastroenteritis, food poisoning, enteric fever, typhoid fever, diarrhea, giardia, listeriosis, Cholera, E.coli, and dysentery. Also, roach excrement and shed skins can cause allergic reactions, especially if roaches get into air ducts. Some symptoms of allergic reactions to roaches include congestion, skin rash, watery eyes, sneezing, and asthma.
• Cockroaches are dangerous because they can cause failed inspections: Not only is this a major issue to deal with in regards to getting things cleaned up and sealed up, but a failed inspection, if not properly dealt with could result in the closure of a restaurant.

Cockroach Prevention Tips

• Make sure all exterior trash is in tightly sealed containers or place dumpsters as far away from the building as possible.
• Store all foods either inside freezers or refrigerators, or make sure they are in sealed containers that hold in smells.
• Make sure your kitchen and dining room is cleaned and sanitized every day.
• Be certain that the outside of the building does not have gaps, cracks, or holes where roaches can squeeze through.
• Partner with a qualified pest control company to take care of pest prevention for you.

No pest can ruin a business faster than the cockroach. If you need assistance in getting rid of a roach infestation, or you would rather not ever have to deal with one, simply reach out to Modern Pest Control today. We are standing by to answer any questions or to schedule service. Restaurants are simply better off when they are cockroach-free.