Pest Control: How to Be Prepared for Your Next Food Safety Audit

Food processing facility managers know the importance of product quality and run a tight ship to meet regulatory requirements, while delivering goods on time and without issues. Third-party food safety audits help ensure that operators are practicing food safety measures, and proper preparation for these visits, whether they occur in person or are held remotely, is essential to your success.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has required changes to the way audits are conducted in food processing facilities, third-party audits remain a priority to ensure that food safety standards are upheld. Unfortunately, understaffing and limitations to interior pest control service may have provided the perfect conditions for pests to enter and multiply in facilities, unnoticed. Whether your facility has continued to participate in audits as usual, has adjusted to a hybrid version, or has paused in-person audits during the pandemic, remaining prepared is crucial. Operating a food processing facility is a demanding job already, and the last thing you want to do is fail an audit due to preventable pest issues.

A poor audit score—or worse, a failed audit—could have damaging effects on your business, ranging from tarnished reputations to canceled orders and lost profits. With the pest control portion of your audit accounting for up to 20% of your final score, it’s important to have a reliable pest control provider who understands your business and your industry’s requirements for food safety and pest control. Additionally, your provider needs to be aware of the various audit schemes that in are use and what their specific, individual requirements are.

Your Pest Control Program

Because food processing facilities provide ample resources needed for survival—shelter, water, ideal temperatures and food—they will always be prone to pests. Although operators in these facilities have strict sanitation and safety measures in place, pests such as cockroaches, rodents, and stored product pests can still disrupt operations.

An integrated pest management (IPM) program, which focuses on preventive techniques rather than reactive treatment for pests, is one of the best ways to make sure your facility is prepared. Partnering with your pest control provider to assess your facility’s pest pressures and maintaining a proper sanitation and cleaning schedule are key steps to a successful IPM program.

Maintaining proper documentation is also necessary to ensure IPM success, as well as an essential part of the pest control portion of your food safety audit. Keeping documentation updated is important because, even with a pest-free facility, you could still lose points on an audit due to insufficient or poor documentation.

Your auditor doesn’t just want to see pest monitoring devices and a pest-free facility. They want to see an ongoing commitment to upholding food safety measures. The following documents can help demonstrate that commitment.

• IPM plan: This documentation includes your written IPM program, pest management food safety rules, and your risk assessment. Make sure these documents are kept updated (at least annually), and address any recent changes to your IPM program or facility.
• Pest sighting log: Facility managers and staff should have this available and updated at all times. Entries should include the date of the sighting, type of pest, location, and the actions taken to prevent future occurrences.
• Service documentation: These are reports of your pest control provider’s visits and will provide the auditor with more details about any pest findings, pest pressures specific to the facility, and whether any corrective measures taken by your facility were successful.
• Pesticide documentation: While the use of pesticides in food processing facilities is often limited, your pest control provider should keep a record of any pesticides used, along with labels for the products and safety data sheets. These will show your auditor that you’re maintaining a safe and environmentally friendly facility.

Be Prepared

Now that you know what information is needed for your food safety audit, be sure you stay prepared. Audits can be unannounced, so staying ready will help prevent any unpleasant surprises. The goal is to be ready every day for an audit.

To make sure you’re prepared for an audit:

• Communicate with your pest control provider on an ongoing basis throughout your partnership. While they are the expert when it comes to pests, you know your facility better than anyone. Taking a proactive role in the partnership will help prevent pest issues in the long run.
• Involve your entire staff in the IPM plan; they know the most about your facility and may spot pests or other issues before you do.
• Conduct annual assessments, regular inspections, and risk assessments with your pest control provider to ensure your IPM plan remains effective and proper.
• Make sure you’re aware of any changes to your pest control service, and be sure to document them. The pandemic altered the way many facilities were able to work with their pest control providers, so document any changes prior to your audit.
• Don’t wait until the last minute to get your documentation in order, because it takes time to compile the information. Your pest control provider should have hard copies of all the essential reports and paperwork, but keeping them digitally is also a good idea. Most pest control providers have digital systems for documentation that even provide trend reports and analysis your auditor will appreciate. It’s also easier to share documentation digitally when there are so many required items.
• Your pest control provider should have proof of their training available for your records as well.

In this time of heightened public health concern, food safety audits shouldn’t be ignored in an effort to keep the supply chain moving at all costs. Even if your audit is conducted virtually due to social distancing requirements, your documentation still will be required. Working with the right pest control provider for your business and being a proactive partner will help ensure that your next food safety audit is a success.