5 - Hygiene and pests

Question 1

T/F The food safety act primarily focuses on consumer protection in the food sector

Answer 1

True

Question 2

T/F The milling industry is exempt from ensuring production conditions that prevent contamination under the food safety act

Answer 2

False

Question 3

The most important objective of a flour miller must be to provide a product which is safe for the end use. … and … are two of the fundamental requirements of … …

Answer 3

Hygiene, pest prevention, food safety

Question 4

List 4 reasons why a miller must prevent and control infestations

Answer 4

1. Flour is food so it should be produced under clean conditions
2. Poor hygiene standards could result in bad publicity
3. Retailing and manufacturing companies require high standards of hygiene from their suppliers and mills are regularly inspected by customers specialists
4. High mill hygiene standards are necessary to fulfil the millers legal requirements under H&S at work act, food safety act and regulations

Question 5

T/F Stored wheat and wheat products are only attacked by insects

Answer 5

False

Question 6

What are the principles of a good hygiene system

Answer 6

Clean premises and equipment
High personal standards
Control of infestation

Question 7

List 4 key principles of a cleaning schedule

Answer 7

1. frequency of cleaning
2. Who is responsible for carrying out tasks and supervising the operation
3. How the cleaning is to be done
4. Any safety precautions needed

Question 8

List the 6 basic factors of infestation control that apply to everyone in the mill

Answer 8

1. The problem is never entirely solved, regular cleaning and constant vigilance is required
2. Cleanliness is important
3. Any evidence of rodents or droppings should be reported
4. Insect bait traps and pheromone traps should be checked to a schedule
5. Pallets should be stacked away from walls and stock rotated
6. Unnecessary and disused equipment should be removed from production and storage areas

Question 9

T/F The cleaning schedule is an essential part of maintaining good mill hygiene standards

Answer 9

True

Question 10

In deciding how long the timescale should be, mills need to take into account the …, … and layout of the mill and the … used

Answer 10

age, design, materials

Question 11

List 6 issues you should consider in your cleaning programme

Answer 11

1. Risk of infestation
2. Life cycle of possible pests
3. Residual effect of any insecticide applied
4. Manageable workload
5. Spread the workload evenly through the period of the schedule
6. Cleaning equipment when routine maintenance work is done

Question 12

T/F Larger mills traditionally rely solely on full-time cleaning staff for maintaining cleanliness

Answer 12

False

Question 13

Which main insect pests are stored in wheat

Answer 13

Beatles and moths

Question 14

Insect species are ‘cold-blooded’ and their development is dependent upon environmental temperatures. At what temps do we see increased activity and speedier development

Answer 14

38’

Question 15

Most insects, including all … grain insect pests, have a life cycle characterised by a ‘complete …’

Answer 15

primary, metamorphosis

Question 16

Describe the 4 stages of an insects life cycle

Answer 16

1. adult - displays insect features, males and females mate to produce large numbers of eggs
2. Egg - small, whitish, inconspicuous, laid by female near food source, resistant to insecticides
3. Larva - small when first emerging, feeds and grows, shell is soft, moults 4-6 times before becoming pupa
4. Pupa - non feeding and non damaging state, metamorphosis in life cycle, in a silken cocoon

Question 17

Insect pests of wheat and wheat products can be divided into … and … insects

Answer 17

Primary and secondary

Question 18

T/F - Primary insect pests are true storage pests, attacking cereal grains and other stored foods, feeding and breeding in the food

Answer 18

True

Question 19

List 4 types of primary insect pests

Answer 19

Saw tooth grain beetle
Grain weevil
Rust-red grain beetle
lesser grain borer

Question 20

T/F Mites, being arachnids, have 6 legs like insects

Answer 20

False

Question 21

How can the presence of mites in flour be detected

Answer 21

By observing a flattening out a small peak formed in the flour sample

Question 22

T/F Secondary inspect pests primarily feed on live insects and mites rather than on debris and spilled grains

Answer 22

False

Question 23

What condition is necessary for mites to survive and breed in cereal grains

Answer 23

Warm grain above 14’C

Question 24

Describe the ways insects and mites can enter a mill

Answer 24

1. Already established before a consignment arrives
2. Arrive in lorries carrying incoming loads of grain
3. Be present in old food residues in freight containers
4. Be carried into the mill from infested wood or plastic pallets
5. Be transported in holds of grain carrying ships and barges
6. Be transferred from a neighbouring infested site

Question 25

List the 3 main commercial impacts an insect infestation can have on a flour mill

Answer 25

1. Deterioration of wheat 2. Contamination of flour 3. Interference with mill process

Question 26

What provide insect and mite pests with ideal living conditions

Answer 26

food and humidity harbourage warmth

Question 27

T/F - Infestation can develop rapidly from a small number of insects if storage conditions are sufficiently warm

Answer 27

True

Question 28

Hot spots encourage even faster breeding and development of insects and can occur in grains dried down to normal moisture contents of 14%

Answer 28

True

Question 29

Insect fragments, their excreta, and mite ... flour. Even low levels of ... cause significant contamination. Flour infested by beetles can ... ... and its baking qualities are reduced. However, heavy infestations are rare.

Answer 29

contaminate, infestation, smell sour

Question 30

What effect do mite body fluids have on flour and baked products

Answer 30

Sour minty smell

Question 31

T/F Grain has low thermal conductivity

Answer 31

True

Question 32

Describe 4 main potential problem areas that allow insects to breed and overwinter in farm grain stores that may be found on wheat arriving at flour mills

Answer 32

1. Dead spaces 2. Damp wheat residues inside conveyors and elevators - small black flies 3. Areas of high humidity - house moth larvae 4. Any dark inaccessible areas with an unattended spillage

Question 33

T/F Elevator pits, beneath silos or mills, cannot become infested by beetles?

Answer 33

False

Question 34

T/F The spread of the mediterranean flour moth was not influenced by the introduction of roller mills

Answer 34

False

Question 35

Explain which is the better floor surfaces and why 1) Smooth terrazo floor verses concrete screed 2) Polished concrete verses plain concrete

Answer 35

1. Smooth terrazo floor is better because concrete is more pitted so harder to clean 2. Polished concrete is better than plain concrete because it is easier to clean

Question 36

What can infest a break and reduction rollermill

Answer 36

Grain beetle, flour beetle, mill moth

Question 37

T/F Flour beetles primarily infest live machinery and equipment within a mill, avoiding dead spaces

Answer 37

False - they love dead spaces

Question 38

Some machines have ... spaces into which ... stock gradually finds its way, allowing .. reinfestation of the more ... parts of the machine

Answer 38

dead, infested, intermittent, exposed

Question 39

Explain why metal and polycarbonate purifiers are better than wooden ones

Answer 39

They are less likely to become infested, but flour beetles can still become established in the elasticated ends in any stock residue and in aspiration channels

Question 40

Explain why production bin tops should be kept clean and why silos can can be difficult to clean

Answer 40

They should be kept clean as moths and beetles may breed in spillages and enter bins via lids and dust extraction units Silos can be difficult to clean because it is not always possible to access every level, so things such as horizontal girders and pipes are inaccessible

Question 41

Insects pass through ... mechanisms and enter feed chutes of either individual bagging machines or multiple feed 'carousel' units. Flour split onto the internal ... of belt conveyors and self stacking/pallet loading machines may become ...

Answer 41

weigher, ledges, infested

Question 42

Which pests can sparrows introduce to bagged flour awaiting dispathc

Answer 42

Spider beetles

Question 43

Which areas within a bulk wheatfeed collection system or pellet making plant are susceptible to infestation by moths and beetles

Answer 43

Dust collection system, holding bins, discharge mechanism

Question 44

T/F Fruit flies, fungus beetles, psocids and mites primarily breed in dry areas of a production facility

Answer 44

False

Question 45

T/F It is not necessary to clean pallets before using them in the bagging section if they have been treated with an insecticide spray

Answer 45

False

Question 46

Some warehouse areas are ... from milling sections by wooden ... Gaps around the panels can be difficult to clean, thus encouraging ...

Answer 46

separated, partitions, infestation

Question 47

Explain how rats and mice enter buildings and how they cause damage

Answer 47

They enter via damaged walls, gantries, pipe runs and badly fitting doors. They can cause damage to doors, windows, electrical wiring and computer systems and even cause fires.

Question 48

Explain the ways rodents can cause potential damage

Answer 48

1. Spread diseases which can be fatal 2. Eat grain and flour and contaminate it with droppings and hair 3. They can damage the structure of the building, water pipes and electric cables

Question 49

Sewer rates produce how many droppings per day

Answer 49

40

Question 50

T/F The black rat, aka the ship or roof rat, is commonly encountered in britain, often residing indoors in various locations beyond port areas

Answer 50

False - it is infrequently encounteres

Question 50

List 3 other names for a brown rat

Answer 50

1. Norway rat 2. Common rat 3. Sewer rat

Question 51

What physical characteristics distinguish the house mouse, the most common rodoent pest in uk mills

Answer 51

Large hairless ears and longish tail, grey-brown fur

Question 52

T/F Bird pests do not contaminate grain with droppings, feathers or nesting material, but solely consume it

Answer 52

False

Question 53

Bird pests can cause potential damage, list two internal causes

Answer 53

They spread disease, they contaminate products with nesting material, droppings and feathers

Question 54

What is a potential damage caused by bird pests externally

Answer 54

Blocking gutters and spouts with droppings and nests - leads to water overflow and timber decay

Question 55

Describe 6 ways infestation can be managed

Answer 55

1. Food spillages removed frequently 2. Structural damage repaired and cracked and broken windows replaced 3. ledges should be avoided as they can accumulate dust 4. Proper warehousing techniques should be implemented - stock rotation, stacking pallets away from walls 5. Premises thoroughly cleaned after maintenance work 6. Spare or disused equipment cleaned and removed from production

Question 56

T/F It is unnecessary to prevent access to water supplies in areas where edible spillages occur, as rats and mice typically obtain sufficient water from the food they consume

Answer 56

False - edibile spillages should be removed and access to water supplies prevented

Question 57

What is the primary difference between proofing against rat entry and proofing against mouse entry

Answer 57

Rat proofing is generally possible, but mice can squeeze through very small gaps as little as 7mm wide

Question 58

T/F Stock rotation discourages nesting

Answer 58

True

Question 59

Why is it recommended to cut back vegetation adjacent to buildings, providing approx. 3m of clearance

Answer 59

To reduce the risk of pest infestations and structural damage.

Question 60

Edible ... should be removed and access to water supplies ... (Rats require a source of water. Mice generally obtain sufficient ... from the products they are eating including flour.)

Answer 60

Spillages, prevented, water

Question 61

Why is it recommended to minimise cover around premises and remove debris or disused machinery left close to buildings

Answer 61

To discourage nesting of pests

Question 62

List and explain 4 ways you can prevent bird infestation

Answer 62

1. Restricting food availability by eliminating spillages 2. Prevent nesting 3. Proof the premises to prevent birds entering or resting 4. If access cannot be easily prevented, loading spouts should be fitted with a cover when not in use