A single cockroach sighting can indicate that there is an infestation. Cockroaches are nocturnal and prefer to live and breed together in dark shelters near food and moisture (these gathering areas are called harborages). But if a harborage site is overpopulated, they can be forced out in daylight, often in search of food. 

If you run a restaurant or food retail business, commercial cockroach control can significantly reduce your risk to profit.

Why and How Cockroaches Can Affect Food Safety

Although cockroaches prefer to stay in hiding, they also need to eat. They will venture out when it is quiet to seek food and water. They are not particularly selective in their food preferences, feeding on garbage, processed foods, and even soap and glue to survive. They will tread across floors and through garbage in search of food, then crawl across food-prep surfaces and equipment.

The Impact of Cockroaches to Restaurants and Foodservice Facilities

Because of the potential for food contamination, cockroaches can have significant repercussions for restaurants and foodservice facilities. Cockroaches spread dangerous diseases, such as E. coli, Salmonella, and dysentery, and a single cockroach sighting can be a critical violation and cause for a restaurant to be shut down by health inspectors. The loss in revenue, customer loyalty and damage to your brand could be irreparable, but there are steps you can take to prevent cockroaches.