How to Get Rid of Flies in Restaurants

At one point or another, most restaurant patrons have had the unfortunate experience of swatting away flies while eating their meals. Some patrons have even experienced a cockroach crawl across their plate. While neither pest is a welcomed sight in the foodservice industry, you may be surprised to learn that house flies are actually twice as filthy.

Flies are a common issue in food service establishments, drawn in by the endless supply of food, warmth, and moisture. Beyond being a nuisance, they pose serious risks, including health code violations, food contamination, and significant damage to your restaurant's reputation.

This guide provides practical steps you can take to understand, prevent, and eliminate fly infestations. Protecting your business starts with a proactive approach to pest control, and we'll cover everything from simple sanitation fixes to long-term management strategies.

How Common Are Flies in Restaurants?

Flies are an incredibly common issue in restaurants due to the nature of the environment. Restaurants provide ideal conditions for flies to thrive, including food waste, sugary beverages, and organic material that serve as food sources, as well as warm, moist areas perfect for breeding. According to studies, certain types of flies, such as houseflies and fruit flies, are particularly prevalent in foodservice establishments. Seasonal changes can also impact the prevalence of flies, with warmer months typically seeing increased activity. Without proper sanitation and pest control measures, flies can quickly become a significant problem, disrupting operations and impacting customer satisfaction.

In a survey recently released by Orkin, half of respondents reported a pest sighting during a restaurant visit in the past 12 months. Ninety-five percent of those sightings included flies and 75 percent of those sightings went unreported because restaurant patrons don’t consider flies a major issue.

Why Are Flies a Problem in Restaurants?

Flies aren't just an unsightly pest; they are a direct threat to your business's health and longevity. They travel from unsanitary environments like garbage bins and animal waste directly to your food preparation surfaces and customer tables. Flies are a problem in restaurants because:

1. Health and Safety Risks: Flies are known to spread disease-causing pathogens as they move quickly from potentially disease-laden garbage to exposed human foods and utensils. Flies can carry over 100 different pathogens, including Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella. Every time a fly lands, it can leave behind thousands of germs that can cause serious illnesses such as diarrhea, food poisoning, meningitis and bloodstream infections.

2. Negative Customer Perception: A fly in a dining area or, worse, in a customer's food, can instantly ruin their experience. This often leads to negative online reviews, poor word-of-mouth, and a lasting stain on your restaurant's reputation. Customers associate flies with uncleanliness, whether it's true or not.

3. Food Safety Inspections: Health inspectors take fly activity very seriously. An infestation can lead to poor scores, fines, and even temporary closure. Consistent pest issues demonstrate a failure in sanitation protocols, which is a major red flag during an inspection.

Despite the health threats flies have, a separate survey conducted by Orkin found that 61 percent of restaurant patrons said they would continue eating their meal after a fly touched and contaminated their food, while only 3 percent would continue eating food on which a cockroach crawled.

Restaurant patrons are at risk of being exposed to serious disease transmission if flies enter food preparation or dining areas. As a result, it’s important for restaurant owners and operators to understand the magnitude of the health threats flies pose so they can help prevent the transmission of dangerous diseases and bacteria – not to mention protect their reputation and bottom line.

Can You Eat Food That Flies Have Been On?

Flies can carry bacteria and other microorganisms from decaying food or dirty surfaces onto fresh produce. If you notice flies on your food, it is advisable to thoroughly wash the affected items with clean water. For soft and easily contaminated foods, such as overripe fruit, it may be best to discard them to avoid potential risk. Maintaining high standards of hygiene is key to ensuring food safety in the presence of flies.

What Are Common Causes of Fly Infestations in Restaurants?

Understanding why flies are attracted to your restaurant is the first step in getting rid of them. Flies seek out food, water, and breeding sites. Your establishment, unfortunately, can provide all three if not managed correctly.

• Improper Food Storage: Leaving food uncovered, even for a short time, can attract flies. Produce left on counters, open containers, and improperly stored ingredients are open invitations.

• Garbage and Waste Handling: Overflowing or uncovered trash cans, both inside and outside, are a primary attractant. Spills in and around dumpster areas create a breeding ground that can quickly lead to a major infestation.

• Standing Water and Drainage Problems: Flies need water to survive and breed. Clogged drains, leaky pipes, damp mops, and even small puddles on the floor provide the perfect environment for them to lay eggs.

• Structural Issues: Open doors and windows without screens offer an easy entry point. Gaps in walls, foundations, or around pipes can also allow pests inside.

• Poor Sanitation: Dirty drains, grease traps, and uncleaned floor areas under equipment are often overlooked. Decomposing organic matter in these spots creates an ideal breeding site for certain types of flies.

Types of Flies Commonly Found in Restaurants

Not all flies are the same. Identifying the type of fly you're dealing with can help you locate the source of the problem more effectively.

1. House Flies

Perhaps the most recognizable pest, house flies are gray with four dark stripes on their thorax. They are strongly attracted to decaying organic matter, from garbage to food spills. You'll find them almost anywhere in a restaurant, from the kitchen to the dining room.

2. Fruit Flies

These tiny, tan-colored flies with red eyes are drawn to fermenting sugars. They are often found around ripe or rotting fruits and vegetables, recycling bins, and even spills of soda, alcohol, or juice. A fruit fly problem often points to sanitation issues at bars, soda fountains, or produce storage areas.

3. Drain Flies

Also known as moth flies, these fuzzy, dark insects have a moth-like appearance. They breed in the organic sludge that builds up inside drains, grease traps, and sewer lines. If you see them hovering around sinks or floor drains, it's a clear sign your drains need a deep cleaning.

4. Blow Flies

Blow flies have a metallic blue or green appearance and are slightly larger than house flies. They are attracted to decaying meat, making them a major concern around garbage areas and dumpsters. Their presence can indicate a dead rodent or improperly disposed of meat scraps.

How to Prevent Flies in Restaurants

Work with a pest management professional to implement the following tactics to help keep flies from disturbing your diners and your business:

• Inspection. Carefully inspect for flies on all food and related materials as they are off-loaded from trucks. Generally, fly eggs are too small to notice so any adult fly activity should be noted if spotted on incoming materials.

• Exclusion. Using exclusion methods can help prevent flies from getting inside. Caulk any cracks or crevices around the exterior of your building, seal all doors and windows with weather stripping, and install correctly-fitting door sweeps. Consider using air curtains and work with an HVAC professional to ensure your facility has positive air pressure. Additionally, avoid placing lights above doors as this can attract flies to the building and into entrances.

• Sanitation. Most flies thrive in warm, moist conditions and seek out sites to reproduce. A complete sanitation program can help keep flies to a minimum by eliminating the food and water sources flies need to survive. Proper sanitation also helps eliminate odors, which can be a first attractant for many fly species.

• Mechanical Control. Flies are attracted to certain wave lengths of light. Use wall-mounted Insect Light Traps (ILTs) as low to the floor as possible (below 5 feet) to catch house flies. Wall-mounted units can also be used for nighttime flying insects in areas where ceilings are no more than 8 to 10 feet. Position units near entrances with the light directed so it is not visible from the outside entrance.

• Proper Waste Management: Use trash bins with tight-fitting lids. Empty indoor bins frequently throughout the day and ensure outdoor dumpsters are located as far from the building as possible, with lids kept closed. The dumpster area should be cleaned regularly to remove spills.

• Food Storage Practices: Store all food in airtight containers. Keep produce refrigerated when possible and ensure dry goods are sealed. Never leave food, especially fruits and vegetables, exposed on counters overnight.

• Employee Training: Your staff is your first line of defense. Train every employee on your sanitation and food handling protocols. They should understand why these rules are important and be empowered to address issues as they see them.

How to Get Rid of Flies If You Already Have Them

If you already have a fly problem, you will want to act quickly. A combination of deep cleaning and targeted removal methods will be necessary.

1. Deep Cleaning: Identify and thoroughly clean the problem areas. This may mean scrubbing drains with a stiff brush and enzymatic cleaners, pulling out equipment to clean underneath, and pressure washing your dumpster pad.

2. Using Traps: Install insect light traps (ILTs) in areas where flies congregate, such as kitchens and storage rooms. These use UV light to attract flies and capture them on a non-toxic glue board. Avoid placing them in view of customers or near food prep areas. Sticky traps can also be used discreetly in back-of-house locations.

3. Chemical Treatments: While chemical sprays can be effective, they must be used with extreme caution in a food-service setting. Only use products specifically labeled for use in restaurants and follow the directions precisely. It's often best to leave chemical applications to professionals.

4. Partnering with a Professional Exterminator: Correctly identify the pests, locate the breeding source, and implement a safe and effective treatment plan.

Contact Orkin for Commercial Fly Control Services

Controlling flies in a restaurant is not a one-time task, it's an ongoing commitment to cleanliness and vigilance. By prioritizing sanitation, managing waste effectively, and maintaining your building, you can create an environment that is unwelcoming to pests.

Consistent effort from you and your team is the key to protecting your food, your customers, and your reputation. Don't wait for a customer complaint or a failed health inspection to take action. The good news is that flies are never the problem, they are only the symptom of a problem. Being aware of what is going in your establishment and being proactive are the key to protecting your business. Contact an Orkin Pro to learn about our commercial fly control services.

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The Buzz on Why Flies Are Bad for Business

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