ABC10’s Dirty Dining Segments Shine Light On Local Establishments:
If you haven’t seen the recent local news reports, health department officials in South Florida have been very busy, with over a dozen different restaurants now facing imposed closures due to pest infestations and other health code violations. Recent stories reported by both Local 10 and CBS12 news teams highlight the growing concern among diners about the overall health and sanitation practices of dining options in their area. These high-profile shutdowns cause damage to the restaurants and their employees, but also erodes the overall community trust in local restaurants. Sadly, pest issues like these are almost entirely preventable. In this blog post, we’ll cover what all of these new stories reveal, why restaurant pest control compliance solutions are even more critical than ever, and what restaurants can do to protect their businesses and livelihoods.
What Recent Closures Reveal:
If you read through the stories, you’ll see some of the same issues over and over again. Roaches, rodents, live insects, maggots, droppings, and more! One of the restaurants was closed down for the 6th different time due to the same recurring issues. Yikes! When you connect the threads, these no longer become isolated incidents. They speak directly to the challenges that South Florida businesses – particularly restaurants – face in what’s a subtropical climate for large portions of the year. Offices, hospitals, and grocery stores all rely on commercial pest control. The warm temperatures, the humidity, and the constant pressure of different types of pests year-round make it one of the hardest areas for a food-service business. Despite the challenges, compliance still matters, which boosts the importance of commercial pest control solutions.
Understanding the Stakes:
Restaurants taking shortcuts with their health and sanitation compliance can face some pretty severe consequences. Pest infestations can lead to:
- Closure by health inspectors
- Expensive fines and re-inspection fees
- Lost revenue during closures
- Long-term damage to the brand reputation and poor online reviews
- Permanent customer attrition and loss
Besides the local news, there are many ways that local communities can learn of local pest infestations online. All it takes these days is a single photo or video taken on someone’s phone and shared on social media, and the restaurant can go “viral” for all the wrong reasons.
What Makes Restaurants In Particular Vulnerable:
We’ve already discussed how the subtropical climate in South Florida contributes to year-round pest pressures. But the business model for restaurants in particular is also a large part of the pest and rodent problem.
You have, first and foremost, large supplies of food, which are pest attractants. There’s lots of garbage and grease that needs to be dealt with. The business is constantly getting deliveries from outside vendors, which can inadvertently introduce a new vector for pest invasion. There are lots of different entry points in and out of the restaurant. You add it all up, and you can see why commercial kitchens often require specialized pest solutions and ongoing monitoring.
Why Professional Pest Services Beats DIY
A professional company that offers commercial pest control services in southeast Florida is going to provide restaurants with an overall greater peace of mind and lowered risk profile. Here at Nozzle Nolen, we regularly:
- Inspect commercial facilities comprehensively
- Provide sanitation recommendations
- Identify and seal entry points
- Deploy and monitor trapping stations
- Deploy insect control protocols
- Support logbook and documentation efforts
- Offer long-term, proactive prevention strategies – not reactive treatments.
Our team has decades of combined experience with specialized technicians who have trained for the unique needs of commercial kitchens. We offer customized plans that are food-safe and eco-friendly. We accommodate after-hours scheduling and are responsive to any sudden needs. And we provide ample reporting and compliance documentation.
Common-Sense Checklists for Restaurant Operators:
Here are some basic and common-sense to-dos for any restaurant operator in South Florida.
- Inspect for signs of rodent activity: gnaw marks, droppings, grease rubs
- Maintain strict food storage protocols
- Keep dumpsters sealed and garbage dumped regularly
- Deep clean floor drains, underneath equipment, and behind appliances
- Seal gaps and cracks – particularly near doors, windows and loading/delivery areas.
- Train staff on proper sanitation and maintenance techniques.
- Schedule regular preventive pest control visits.
Stay Off the Dirty Dining List:
Pest Control in restaurants isn’t optional. It’s essential to the safety of customers and employees, the overall reputation of the brand, and long-term revenue streams. Avoid the headlines and get proactive today. If you’re in need of some commercial pest control solutions, you can schedule a Free Inspection today.
Read more for our guide to handling another common Florida problem: Ants.
