Topic 8 of 8 · about 7% (our estimate)
Keeping pests out of the kitchen
Pest control in the kitchen is mostly about not giving pests a reason to move in. A food handler's part is prevention and reporting what you see; treatment belongs to the licensed pest pro the kitchen uses.
- ExamPFH
- Topic weight7%
- Questions here14
- UpdatedOct 14, 2026
On this page 6 sections
Food, water and a way in
Cockroaches, rodents and flies are after the same three things: something to eat, something to drink and a place to hide. Take those away and an infestation has nothing to grow on.
On a real line the gaps look ordinary. Grease left under the fryers at close. A slow drip under the dish machine that nobody reports. A gap under the dock plate where the receiving door meets the floor.
Fruit flies breed in what sits wet and sweet: the bar mat, a floor drain, the bottom of a forgotten bin of lemons. A drain that gets scrubbed on schedule stops feeding them, which is why most pest work is cleaning and sanitizing done on time.
Your job, and the pest pro's
| Task | Food handler | Pest control operator |
|---|---|---|
| Clean up spills, grease and leaks | Every shift | Points out problem spots |
| Report signs of pests | Right away, to the manager | Inspects on a schedule |
| Apply baits or pesticides | Not your job; tell the manager | Yes, licensed or certified for it |
| Choose the treatment | No | Yes |
Restricted-use pesticides may be applied only by a certified applicator or under one's direct supervision (FDA Food Code 2022, 1-201.10, definition of restricted use pesticide).
Signs worth reporting
- Droppings in drawers, on shelves or along the walls
- Gnaw marks on bags, boxes or the bottom corners of doors
- Dark, greasy rub marks along walls where rodents run
- Egg cases or shed skins behind equipment
- Live insects in flour, rice or cereal
- A musty, oily smell in dry storage
Pests: your call
Signs, entry points, storage and who handles treatment. More topics, mixed, on the free food handler practice test.
Each question is a chit, an order ticket. Answer it and it flips to show why every option is right or wrong.
No. 01
Which condition indicates a need for immediate pest control intervention?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 01
- A
Seeing live pests during daylight hours Correct: Most pests hide by day, so seeing them in daylight usually means a large infestation is crowding them out of hiding.
- B
Trash bins full at the end of the night Full trash bins need emptying because they attract pests, but they don't show pests are already inside.
- C
Having dirty floors after a busy shift Dirty floors need cleaning because they attract pests, but they don't show an infestation.
- D
Noticing food debris under equipment Food debris under equipment invites pests and needs cleaning, yet it shows a risk rather than pests already present.
- A
No. 02
What is the proper response to finding signs of stored product pests?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 02
- A
Freeze the products and keep them in stock Freezing can kill insects but leaves their bodies, eggs, and droppings in the product, so it doesn't make the food usable.
- B
Continue normal operations and monitor Watching while carrying on lets beetles and moths spread to nearby stock.
- C
Isolate affected products immediately Correct: Separating infested product right away keeps insects out of clean stock until it's discarded or returned and pest control is called.
- D
Use the products quickly before it spreads Using infested product serves insects and droppings to guests; it gets removed, not rushed out.
- A
No. 03
Which condition most likely attracts pests to a food service establishment?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 03
- A
Organized storage Organized storage with nothing on the floor leaves pests fewer places to hide, so it keeps them away.
- B
Standing water Correct: Pests need water as much as food, so puddles, leaks, and wet mop buckets give roaches and rodents a reason to move in.
- C
Clean floors Clean floors take away the crumbs and spills that pests feed on.
- D
Sealed trash bins Trash bins with tight lids keep pests away from food waste, which is exactly what you want.
- A
No. 04
What should be done with cardboard boxes after deliveries?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 04
- A
Store them for future use in the back Saved boxes give roaches a place to hide and breed.
- B
Remove them from the facility immediately Correct: Cardboard can carry roach eggs from the supplier and gives pests a place to hide, so it goes out to recycling right after unpacking.
- C
Keep them in the storage area, flattened Flattened or not, cardboard in storage is harborage and can bring in eggs from the supplier.
- D
Use them as liners on storage shelves Cardboard liners soak up spills and hide pests, while shelves need surfaces that can be cleaned.
- A
No. 05
What is the best way to seal potential pest entry points?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 05
- A
Place sticky traps at every entry point Sticky traps monitor and catch pests already inside; they don't close the gap they came through.
- B
Apply pesticides around the openings Pesticides near openings add chemical risk and do nothing to stop the next pest from walking in.
- C
Use air fresheners to mask food odors Masking odors doesn't stop pests, which find food by many cues and enter through any gap.
- D
Install weather stripping and seal holes Correct: Closing gaps with weather stripping, sealant, or other permanent fixes physically keeps pests out.
- A
No. 06
Which pest control method is most appropriate for a food service establishment?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 06
- A
Setting poison bait Poison bait can be part of a plan, but used alone near food it adds risk and doesn't remove the cause.
- B
Using ultrasonic devices Ultrasonic devices have little proven effect on pests and don't replace exclusion and cleaning.
- C
Regular pesticide spraying Spraying on a schedule puts chemicals near food without fixing how pests get in.
- D
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Correct: IPM combines keeping pests out, removing food, water, and shelter, and working with a licensed operator, using chemicals only as needed.
- A
No. 07
How should dry ingredients be stored to prevent pest infestation?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 07
- A
In paper bags, folded shut Pests chew through paper easily, and a folded bag doesn't seal.
- B
In the original packaging Once opened, original bags and sacks can't be resealed tightly, and pests chew through them.
- C
In cardboard boxes with lids Cardboard is easy for insects and rodents to get into and can bring pests in with it.
- D
In sealed, airtight containers Correct: Hard containers with tight lids keep flour, rice, and other dry goods away from insects and rodents.
- A
No. 08
Which type of trap is most appropriate for monitoring cockroach activity in a kitchen?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 08
- A
Poison bait stations Bait stations kill roaches but don't show you where they are or how many, and that's what monitoring needs.
- B
UV light traps UV light traps target flying insects like flies, not cockroaches.
- C
Glue boards Correct: Glue boards catch roaches without chemicals and show where activity is concentrated, which guides the pest control operator.
- D
Sonic devices Sonic devices have little proven effect and give no information about activity.
- A
No. 09
Which material is best for shelving to prevent pest harborage?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 09
- A
Cardboard boxes Cardboard absorbs moisture and gives roaches a place to hide and breed.
- B
Stainless steel Correct: Stainless steel is smooth, nonabsorbent, and easy to clean, so it gives pests no cracks or soft spots to live in.
- C
Unsealed wood Unsealed wood soaks up spills and has cracks where insects can hide.
- D
Particleboard Particleboard swells and crumbles when wet, opening up hiding places for pests.
- A
No. 10
Which pest control method is most appropriate near food contact surfaces?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 10
- A
Fumigation Fumigation is a whole-building job for a licensed operator, done with food removed, not near working surfaces.
- B
Poison baits Poison baits near food surfaces risk contaminating food; they belong in locked stations away from food.
- C
Chemical sprays Sprays near food-contact surfaces can leave residue on them and on food.
- D
Mechanical traps Correct: Traps that catch pests physically put no chemicals near food, which is why they're the choice around food-contact surfaces.
- A
No. 11
How should damaged walls or ceilings be addressed for pest control?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 11
- A
Wait for scheduled maintenance Waiting leaves an open path for pests until the scheduled date.
- B
Cover with tape Tape fails quickly and pests chew through it, so it isn't a real repair.
- C
Repair immediately Correct: Holes and cracks in walls and ceilings are entry points and hiding places, so they get properly repaired right away.
- D
Monitor for activity Monitoring tells you when pests show up, but the opening stays there until it's repaired.
- A
No. 12
What is the most effective way to prevent pest entry through exterior doors?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 12
- A
Keep doors propped open for ventilation Propped doors are an open invitation to flies and rodents; outer doors should stay closed.
- B
Place sticky traps near entrances Sticky traps catch pests already inside but don't stop them coming through the door.
- C
Apply pesticides around doorframes monthly Spraying around frames adds chemicals near food and leaves the gap under the door open.
- D
Install door sweeps and self-closing mechanisms Correct: Door sweeps close the gap at the bottom, and self-closing doors keep the opening shut when no one is using it.
- A
No. 13
What should be done with incoming deliveries to prevent pest introduction?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 13
- A
Store them as received, then check later Putting stock away first lets pests hidden in the cases get into your storage area.
- B
Wipe the boxes down with sanitizer first Sanitizer on the outside of a box does nothing about insects or droppings inside it.
- C
Leave them outside until there is time Deliveries left outside can warm up, attract pests, and get contaminated before anyone looks at them.
- D
Inspect them immediately for signs of pests Correct: Checking deliveries on arrival for droppings, gnawed packaging, and insects lets you reject infested product before it's inside.
- A
No. 14
How should outdoor waste containers be maintained?
Pick one. The chit flips to a note on every option.
Notes on No. 14
- A
Rinse daily with water Rinsing helps with odor, but a container without a tight lid still lets pests in.
- B
Keep covered with tight-fitting lids Correct: Outdoor containers keep tight-fitting lids closed so rodents, flies, and birds can't get to the waste.
- C
Leave open for ventilation Open containers feed flies, rodents, and birds and spread odors that draw more pests.
- D
Clean only when full Waiting until a container is full lets residue and odors build up, so clean it on a regular schedule.
- A
Nothing matches both filters. Clear one of them.
Pests: what people ask
Can I spray for bugs myself if I see one?
No. Report it to your manager and leave treatment to the pest control operator your kitchen uses. Under the Food Code, restricted-use pesticides are applied only by a certified applicator (1-201.10), and a spray near open food can contaminate it.
Why is pest prevention part of a food handler course?
Pests carry germs onto food and surfaces. NEHA lists Pest Prevention as one of the five topic areas of the PFH course (NEHA shop listing, as of October 2026).
Sources
- FDA Food Code 2022 — 1-201.10 restricted use pesticide; 6-501.111 controlling pests checked Oct 13, 2026
- NEHA shop, PFH Online Certificate Course (English) — Pest Prevention topic area checked Oct 13, 2026