Fruit flies run rampant in commercial food service in Toms River, NJ

Challenge

One of the most common pest infestations faced by our commercial accounts, especially with many of the restaurants we service throughout New Jersey, including this restaurant in Toms River, NJ, is fruit fly infestations. Unlike the many pests that are seasonal and peak during the spring and summer, fruit flies are an all-year nuisance. These difficult-to-see-until-they-are-in-your face gnats are a frustrating pest that just doesn’t seem to go away once they stake out their turf. Dealing with these flies buzzing around your kitchen is more than an annoyance. Like all flies, they are attracted rotting foods and outright filth. Because of their breeding habits, they can carry disease-causing bacteria (including E. coli), viruses, and other pathogens. 

Often, fruit fly infestations are preventable. By far, the number one reason a business finds itself with a fruit fly infestation is less-than-stellar sanitation. If fruit fly attractants are eliminated, the likelihood of an infestation drops dramatically. Everyone knows that fruit flies are attracted to ripened or rotting fruits and vegetables or anything with sugar like dessert sweets or soda pop. But there are other attractants that are often not considered. Fruit flies feed on the accumulated gunk that forms in drains, the residue on damp mops and moist cleaning rags, and those unemptied buckets of dirty mop water sitting in the corner. All they need is a  thin layer of fermenting material on which to feed and they’re in business. 

During our inspections, at first blush, things may look neat and tidy. But first appearances can be deceiving. Once you start taking a close look underneath and behind appliances and the cleanliness of the flooring, things aren’t as copasetic as they appear. Often times, food debris gets kicked under the bar and kitchen equipment without anyone noticing where it starts to rot. If those hidden areas are not regularly cleaned, they will become breeding grounds for fruit flies and other pests. The best prevention for fruit flies is having kitchen sanitation and hygiene protocols that are enforced by the kitchen manager. It does little good to have rules of cleanliness if they are not implemented and enforced. “Elbow grease” can go a long way — regularly scrubbing the floors to get rid of that sticky built-up film organic film and cleaning the undersides and surrounding areas of appliances is critical. Also, it is important to keep things dry. Water is a major insect attractant. Standing water from a leaking sink or stinky mop water provides fruit flies with all they need to thrive and breed. 

Solution

If a restaurant or other business does not address these sanitation issues, they better have a good pest control service on speed-dial. A pest control service treats the current infestation, which is certainly important, but if the underlying problems are not resolved, re-infestations are inevitable. I have conducted many restaurant inspections for the purpose of identifying problem areas and developing pest control plans to keep insects (and rodents) at bay along. Just like going to the dentist, periodic inspections and preventative treatments are necessary for long-term control.