problem in food facilities. Birds can
damage or destroy property, eat and
contaminate food items, and are a
health concern.
Birds often roost in structures and
may harbor diseases such as Lyme
disease, West Nile virus, and histoplasmosis, a respiratory disease that can be
spread through bird droppings. Depending on the species, there are various
forms of bird control.
Integrated Pest Management
It is important to have a proactive
pest management plan in place to comply with FSMA and minimize risk of
food contamination. Nevertheless, pest
control can be easily overlooked.
Working with a pest management
professional will ensure a proper IPM
program is in place that will address any
potential pest problems. IPM programs
focus on pest prevention by eliminating
entry points and sources of food, water,
and shelter for pests. This can be difficult in food facilities, which is why IPM
programs need to be regularly updated
to ensure they meet the current pest
concerns of facilities.
IPM can be especially useful for
food facilities required to follow strict
regulations, such as FSMA, specific
food allergen control programs, or the
requirements of U.S. Department of
Agriculture organic standards. IPM programs take any and all facility requirements into consideration during program development. Furthermore, IPM
also helps ensure pest control is done in
a proactive, sustainable manner.
Summary
Working with an accredited pest
management professional who un-
derstands NPMA guidelines can help
ensure food processing and handling
facilities are acting in accordance with
the sanitation standards set forth by
FSMA. Pest management is a critical
component of food safety programs in
facilities nationwide, and pest manage-
ment professionals have the training and
experience to overcome the most dif-
ficult pest problems and can help food
facilities ensure they are not at risk for
food contamination. Accredited profes-
sionals can be found at Pest World.org. n
Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., is chief entomologist and vice
president of technical and regulatory affairs for NPMA.
PEST CONTROL
“…stricter sanitation
standards…cannot be
met without proper pest
management.”
www.mt.com/pi
Do Your Products Conform
to Your Brand Requirements
and Regulations?
Partner with the product inspection
experts to ensure they do!
Metal Detection X-Ray Inspection Checkweighing Vision Inspection
Customized Material Handling Global Field-based Service
Visit us at the
Food Safety Summit
Booth 507
Rosemont, IL
May 8-10, 2018