Cockroaches are known for being tough and able to do well in a wide range of conditions. Sadly, the kitchen is one of their favourite places to hang out, which makes food safety a major concern. For people to protect their health and well-being, they need to know how cockroaches affect food safety.
What Cockroaches Can Do to You
Cockroaches are more than just a bothersome pest in your home; they also spread germs and diseases. These are some of the main reasons they pose a threat to food safety:
- Pests that spread disease: Cockroaches have diseases on their bodies and in their feces, such as bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli. When they touch your food or places used to prepare food, they can easily spread these germs that make you sick.
- What are allergens? Roaches make proteins that can cause allergy reactions and asthma symptoms in some people. These proteins can get on your food, cooking tools, and surfaces.
- Contamination: Cockroaches are known to eat anything they can get their hands on. They eat a lot of different things, from dead things to glue, hair, and yes, your food. When they eat, they leave behind drool, poop, and skin that they have shed. Your food might not be safe to eat because of this pollution.
How to Tell If You Have a Cockroach Problem
To keep your food and family safe, it’s important to know how to spot a cockroach problem:
- Crumbs: Cockroach poop looks like ground coffee or black pepper and can be found near where they hide or on surfaces where food is prepared.
- Strange Smell: Roaches have a musty smell that can be noticed when they are really bad.
- Shed Skin: When cockroaches moult, they get rid of their exoskeletons. Finding these skin pieces is a clear sign that they were there.
- Roaches That Can Be Seen: If you turn on the lights in your kitchen at night, you might see cockroaches running around.
How to Keep Your Kitchen from Getting Cockroaches
The best way to keep food safe from cockroaches is to avoid them in the first place. You can do the following:
- Keep Your Kitchen Clean: Your kitchen’s counters, floors, and shelves should all be cleaned regularly. This will get rid of any food scraps or leftovers that roaches might be interested in.
- Seal Food Correctly: Keep your food in containers that keep air out. Cockroaches won’t be able to get to your food this way.
- Fix any leaks. Cockroaches need water to live. Fix any kitchen leaks and make sure the lines and sink are dry before going to bed.
- Safe Trash: Make sure the lids on your trash cans are tight, and take the trash out often.
- Bugs can get into your home through small holes and cracks that you caulk and seal. Cover these openings with glue to keep them out.
Professional Control of Pests
If you think you have cockroaches, you should talk to a professional pest control service. They can look at the situation and get rid of the pests in a safe and effective way.
Last but not least, having cockroaches in your home is very bad for food safety. These hardy pests can bring germs and other things that can make you sick into your home. To protect your food and your family’s health, you need to know how to spot the signs of an infestation and take steps to avoid them, like keeping things clean and covering food. Also, don’t be afraid to call a professional pest control service if you think you have a roach problem in your house.
Cockroach Control Newmarket deals with cockroach infestations with a systematic and exhaustive approach. Our trained technicians not only exterminate the cockroaches that are easily visible but also locate their nesting locations and thoroughly treat them, thus eliminating the threat of a future infestation.