What are the most common pests found in the food industry?

• A. Fungi only
• B. Bacteria, viruses, yeast
• C. People, pets
• D. Rodents, insects, birds/animals

Answer: (D)

In food safety practice, pests are the animals that invade food premises and can contaminate food, spoil packaging, or spread disease. The most common ones you’ll encounter are rodents (rats and mice), insects (flies, cockroaches, and other stored-product pests), and birds or other animals that enter the site. These pests are a primary concern because they directly threaten food safety and can lead to contamination and health risks if not controlled.

Other options don’t fit as well because they refer to microorganisms like fungi, bacteria, and viruses, which are contaminants and causes of illness rather than the animal pests typically targeted in pest-control programs. And while people and pets are present in environments, they aren’t regarded as pests in the context of pest management within a food premises.