Who does not know how detesting a cockroach can be and practically no kitchen in the tropics can be free from this house hold pest. No matter what preventive steps one takes, elimination of cockroach is practically impossible. Though they are not harmful by them selves, their propensity to carry many types of pathogenic bacteria make them one of the most serious pest problems in food processing plants. A hardy creature it is known to have ability to live without water and food for more than a month. As they like moist warm conditions to live, their most frequent habitat is sewers and drains from where they can get access into food preparation areas like kitchen. As sewage lines, carrying human feces are heavily contaminated with E.coli and other microorganisms, cockroaches carry with them these bugs and once they ingest already contaminated foods the pathogenic bacterial population increases in their digestive system where they can stay for more than a month. Besides their excreta which may contain undesirable bacteria can be a source of infection for several years if not cleaned quickly. According to some experts, food processing industry is less sensitive to the dangers posed by cockroaches because of the frequent emphasis on rodents ignoring theses nocturnal pests.
"Cockroaches can spread 33 different kinds of bacteria," said Missy Henriksen, NPMA Vice President of Public Affairs. "What we are seeing right now is that it really does underscore the importance of sanitation and proper pest management.". Like all pests, and other living creatures, cockroaches seek three things for survival: food, water and shelter, Henriksen said. And with the haven that a food or beverage plant provides for all of these, a cockroach will take any opportunity to enter and make your plant its home and your food area its literal stomping grounds. A Limited Solution. Prior to the 1990s, cockroaches were a greater problem in plants. But the advent of gel baits, which have more application potential, brought much of the problem under control, said Tom Dobrinska, Training Director for Anderson Pest Solutions. "Once the baits came out, that significantly knocked down the populations," Dobrinska said. However, the technological advance has a downside, that of an over-dependency on the baits to the neglect of sanitation and other integrated pest management practices. "I think there's a false sense of security," Dobrinska said, "so that can make [cockroach contamination] more of a threat."
Though gels containing hydromethylnon or fiprinol or boric acid can be effective in controlling the population, there is no substitute to impeccable sanitation practices which only can ensure preempting dangers from cockroach contamination. House hold sprays containing Deltamethrin or Pyrethrin are available in the market but one may have to keep awake during the night for these predators to emerge for targeting them! The presence of allergens like tropomysin can also be an irritant when one deals with cockroaches though only few people are susceptible to them. A good house wife knows that keeping the kitchen and dining area clean before retiring for the day after dinner is the best way to discourage visits and habitation by cockroaches. Same applies to food processors also though frequent use of gel based baits and keeping the processing area well lighted for 24 hours can provide additional security against these night marauders
V.H.POTTYhttp://foodtechupdates.blogspot.com
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