Cockroaches rarely cause damage to structures. However, they can contaminate food and transmit disease by walking and leaving feces on food or in food preparation areas after moving through garbage or sewers.

 

The dangers posed by cockroaches for food safety

A single cockroach spotted during the day can be a sign of a large infestation. Cockroaches, also called cockroaches, are nocturnal and prefer to live and breed in sheltered, dark places, near food and moisture. If a place of refuge is overcrowded, they may be forced out in broad daylight, often in search of food.

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Why and how cockroaches can affect food safety

Although cockroaches prefer to stay hidden, they also need food. They will venture out of their den when all is calm, in search of water and food. They have no particular preferences in terms of food, feeding just as well on waste as on industrial food. In their search for food, they can move on the ground and pass through garbage, then move on equipment with surfaces in contact with food.

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Diseases transmitted by cockroaches

These pests are well known for transmitting disease and can easily contaminate food and food contact surfaces.

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Cockroaches pose a serious food safety risk due to their ability to carry and transmit disease. These pests contaminate food and food contact surfaces through their droppings or with their bodies through mechanical transfer. On the left, German cockroaches on a Petri dish. On the right, colonies of E. coli transmitted by cockroaches.

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Contamination of food and contact surfaces

The German cockroach is a well-known vector of diseases such as: 

• Salmonellosis - Salmonella food poisoning causes diarrhea, fever and abdominal cramps for 12 to 72 hours. Symptoms are usually mild but can be severe, especially in people with immune system deficiencies.

• Staphylococcal infections - This gastrointestinal disease develops soon after food is ingested and usually lasts a day. Toxins are heat resistant and therefore cannot be removed during cooking.

• Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria normally live in the intestines of humans and animals, and some types can cause illness with diarrhea. 

• Typhoid fever - This potentially fatal disease is caused by the pathogen Salmonella Typhi. When infected food is eaten, the bacteria multiply in the body and spreads through the bloodstream. 

• Gastroenteritis - An inflammation of the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine that usually results in vomiting and diarrhea.
  Ordinary diarrhea.

People can be affected by any of these diseases by consuming contaminated food or drink. Cockroaches can also cause asthma and other allergies. 

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Cockroach Prevention Tips

Cockroaches are generally introduced into restaurants and food service facilities through deliveries, supplies, and even employee personal effects. Some species can travel from building to building through sewer pipes and drains. Once inside a building, they can survive there as long as they have access to water and food. They reproduce quickly and thrive in hard-to-reach cracks and crevices that provide warmth and moisture.

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What you can do to prevent the appearance of cockroaches

There are several measures that can be taken to prevent the appearance of cockroaches and other pests:

• Inspection of goods upon arrival: check each delivery for pests and refuse deliveries that show obvious signs of contamination.

• Structural changes: Fill holes and cracks where pests could enter. Make sure that door seals and mosquito nets are in good condition to repel pests.

• Hygiene: Limit pest access to water and food by thoroughly cleaning spilled food, grease, and other debris from floors, counters, cooktops, and other surfaces. Keep waste storage areas in good repair, repair leaky faucets and pipes, and clean drains.

• If you see cockroaches or other pests, immediately notify ML extermination

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