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Food Handler · General

What is the FIRST and most effective method of pest control in a food establishment?

Correct answer

Denying pests access, food, water, and harborage (prevention) — through sealing entry points, proper sanitation, and eliminating shelter — rather than relying primarily on pesticides

  1. A Spraying pesticides regularly
  2. B Denying pests access, food, water, and harborage (prevention) — through sealing entry points, proper sanitation, and eliminating shelter — rather than relying primarily on pesticides
  3. C Setting traps everywhere
  4. D Keeping a cat in the kitchen

Why this is the answer

INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM) — PREVENTION FIRST: The most effective pest control denies pests what they need: ACCESS (deny entry): seal cracks/holes, install door sweeps and air curtains, screen windows, keep doors closed; FOOD (deny food): clean spills immediately, store food in sealed containers, dispose of garbage properly, clean under and behind equipment; WATER (deny water): fix leaks, eliminate standing water; HARBORAGE (deny shelter): remove clutter, eliminate hiding/nesting places; PESTICIDES are a LAST resort, used by licensed pest control operators (PCOs), not the primary method; SIGNS OF INFESTATION: droppings, gnaw marks, egg cases, grease marks, live/dead pests, nesting materials; pests (rodents, cockroaches, flies) carry and spread pathogens (Salmonella, etc.) and contaminate food; MANAGER'S ROLE: maintain sanitation and exclusion, work with a licensed PCO, monitor for signs, document; prevention is far more effective and safer than chemical treatment after an infestation occurs.
Source: Food Manager — Integrated Pest Management

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