Integrated management of urban pests in supermarkets
Technical note on integrated urban pest management in supermarkets, with a focus on diagnosis, prevention and criteria applicable to professional pest management.
Although the traditional channel represents 70% of the Peruvian market share, the country's conditions place it among the most attractive to invest in the retail sector. This is due, among other factors, to growing demand and a still limited penetration of supermarkets. The greatest consumption is concentrated in food category products, groceries, beverages, meats, fruits, vegetables, sausages, bakery and prepared foods.
Even though the attributes and benefits that the customer seeks are linked to proximity, variety of products, competitive prices and the offer of complementary services, the consumer is increasingly demanding regarding the quality of what they buy. The presence of pests in the products that are sold generates dissatisfaction and complaints, and consequently loss of brand value, which is one of the most important assets of any chain.
Consumer loyalty is directly related to satisfaction and positive experiences. Considering the high flow of products to supermarkets, it is understood that many infestations come from the origin or the distribution chain. For this reason, it is essential to establish a system of audits aimed at guaranteeing that integrated pest management programs implemented at origin, intermediate warehouses and distribution are effective.
Sanitary design and maintenance is a set of preventive and corrective actions aimed at the functioning of the infrastructure with a marked emphasis on food safety.
Exclusion alternatives are the installation of PVC weather stripping or tabs, PVC curtains that completely cover the entrances with a 50% overlap between bands, air curtains with flow rates greater than 8 m/s measured 1 meter from the ground, meshes with an adequate mesh and other equivalent barriers. The maintenance area, with support from the IUPM provider, must permanently identify infrastructure failures that constitute access routes for pests or that provide refuge, to manage the necessary improvements.
The permanent strengthening of cleaning in stores should be aimed at eliminating any offer of food, since limiting pests from the resources necessary for their survival is relevant and a priority in the preventive approach.
The use of UV-A light traps for flying insects, as well as sticky traps for crawling insects and synanthropic rodents, in addition to live trapping cages and blow traps, constitute high-impact non-toxic tools in the control of pests that managed to violate the infrastructure.
Pesticide applications should be the last option and will be aimed at specific and focused treatments. In them, the use of cockroach-killing baits of recognized effectiveness and liquid insecticides such as natural pyrethrins, with very good performance and low risk of contamination of food products and poisoning due to exposure, should be prioritized.
Last but not least, the modification of habits, practices and behaviors of workers that favor the presence of pests is key. This must be achieved through communication awareness campaigns, promoting healthy behaviors aimed at modifying the conditions that allow the presence of pests.