Check goods at receipt, reject or isolate damaged deliveries, move accepted stock into orderly protected storage and record signs against the supplier, batch and shelf. This creates a traceable decision instead of allowing one damaged carton to disappear into the stockroom.
Inspect at the handover point
Give receiving staff enough light and space to see torn cartons, webbing, gnawing, staining or live insects. Check outer packaging and pallets before goods mix with existing stock. Record the delivery time, supplier, product and exact sign; a photograph should include the label and the damaged area.
The FSA Safer Food, Better Business pest-control sheet advises checking deliveries, checking premises regularly and keeping food covered. It also says food touched by pests must not be used. The food business decides disposition under its food-safety system; a pest contractor provides evidence and recommendations.
Design storage for inspection
Keep stock off inaccessible floor edges where practical, preserve a viewing gap at walls and avoid blocking service cupboards. Use stock rotation so old packs do not remain undisturbed behind new ones. Close bins and remove waste on the business schedule.
Separate quarantine from usable stock with a clear label and named decision owner. Do not move suspect cartons through preparation areas or combine them with unrelated returns. If activity is found after storage, compare delivery records with shelf location before assuming it arrived in that consignment.
Close defects, not just records
Assign door gaps, damaged screens, leaks and wall penetrations to facilities with a due date. Ask the pest report to distinguish delivery evidence, internal activity and inaccessible areas. Review repeat observations by location and supplier.
Call 0203 393 2338, or read the commercial pest-control page.
Frequently asked questions
Should a damaged delivery enter the stockroom?
Follow the business's quarantine or rejection process before it mixes with accepted stock.
Does damaged packaging prove pests are established on site?
No. Record where damage was first found and inspect the receiving and storage route.
Is stock rotation a pest treatment?
No. It improves visibility and reduces long-undisturbed storage; identified activity still needs assessment.
Sources and further reading
External references may contain pest or skin photographs.
