It is never a good sign to find mice in your kitchen. The situation is even worse if that kitchen belongs to your restaurant or pub. This brief Guide to stop mice infestations has been designed to ensure you are aware of the tell tale signs of rodent infestation and the consequences for failing to act.

Guide to stop mice infestations
Identifying indicators of rodents in restaurants is essential.
Mice have a knack for locating food and shelter, being especially attracted to warmth or the aroma of food coming from places such as ovens, supply closets, delivery zones, and dumpsters. These factors serve as incentives for them to wriggle through even the smallest openings.
Therefore, the initial step is to determine if you have any unwelcome visitors. Obvious signs of rodent presence include:
Gnaw marks. These marks are a clear indicator that your establishment might be harboring mice, as rats and mice gnaw to create entry points.
Mice droppings. Typically the size of a grain of rice.
Rub marks. Greasy marks on your walls.
Damaged items. Mice may chew on furniture, wires, and other objects, similar to gnaw marks.
Actual sightings. Since mice tend to stay close to their nests, spotting one should prompt action, as there are likely more nearby.
Rodents are most likely to enter your premises through openings in food packaging, broken air bricks, windows, missing roof tiles or slates, drainage systems, and doors left open or propped open.
Is it possible for mice to contaminate food?
Indeed, there is a valid reason to worry about rodents being present in your establishment.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) caution that certain diseases can be transmitted from rodents to humans through direct or indirect contact, these include:
Salmonellosis – this bacterial infection is acquired by consuming contaminated food or water. Symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that typically appear six hours to six days after infection and last for four to seven days.
Plague – this bacterial infection can be contracted through a rodent flea bite carrying the plague bacterium or by handling an infected animal. Untreated, plague can be fatal and cause damage to various organs.
Hantavirus – each hantavirus is linked to a specific rodent host species. The disease spreads through direct contact or inhaling particles from rodent urine, feces, and saliva. While less common, it can also be transmitted through a bite from an infected host.
Rat-bite Fever (RBF) – contracted by consuming food or water contaminated with the urine and droppings of rodents carrying the bacteria. RBF symptoms include fever, vomiting, headache, muscle pain, joint pain, and rash. Untreated, RBF can be severe or even fatal.
What to Expect from Environmental Health Officers or Food Premises Inspectors?
In the event of a mice infestation being detected, Environmental Health Officers (EHO) or food premises inspectors will expect to see specific actions.
Prompt action. If the Council's Food Safety team identifies an infestation, taking immediate action is crucial. Temporary closure of your premises may be necessary to facilitate effective treatment.
Voluntary closure. Opting for voluntary closure, although counterintuitive, is preferable to the negative publicity and legal proceedings that often follow formal notices, not to mention the associated costs.
Please note that while voluntary closure may help avoid the issuance of an Emergency Hygiene Protection Notice, this informal approach may become less likely if there is evidence that staff have noticed signs of activity but the business continues to operate regardless.
Engagement of pest control. Upon engaging a pest control contractor, Council officers will expect to see a completed pest control logbook from the contractor. It is crucial to address any housekeeping recommendations outlined in the logbook.
Confirmation of treatment. Furthermore, officers anticipate being informed when the contractor confirms the successful completion of treatment.
Risk of prosecution. Ultimately, if an EHO deems it necessary to issue a closure notice to premises, they are more likely to pursue prosecution against the business owners due to the failures that led to the closure.
Interview Under Caution
If you find yourself under thorough investigation, you may receive notice of an intention to conduct an interview under caution. This interview will focus on examining the system and training failures that resulted in the infestation.
From the operator's perspective, this interview is a crucial part of the investigative process. It provides an opportunity to thoroughly investigate the incident and demonstrate the extensive training, cleaning, and auditing systems in place to prevent such occurrences.
Furthermore, it is a chance to outline any corrective actions taken to reduce the likelihood of similar situations in the future. Seeking legal advice at this stage is essential to ensure that the operator's case is presented as comprehensively as possible, with the aim of potentially avoiding prosecution.
The Business Risks of Mice Infestation
Mouse infestation poses significant risks to your premises, extending beyond the initial impact of closure.
Recent sentencing guidelines highlight the importance of 'sending a clear message to the board' regarding financial penalties. This could result in fines ranging from tens to hundreds of thousands of pounds, depending on the organization's size and various factors such as culpability and harm identified during investigations.
Moreover, there is the added risk of negative publicity, which can further harm your business. Potential and existing customers may be discouraged from visiting your premises due to concerns about health and safety.
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