Food Safety Magazine - April/May 2018

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