But we’re not here to criticize, we’re here to inform. So what’s so bad about having cockroaches around? I think you might regret that question in a few moments. Because here are four reasons cockroaches are unacceptable in a restaurant:
Let’s pretend you don’t even care about the health implications. You know who will care? The local health department. And if somebody catches wind of your cockroach problems and calls the authorities, they’re going to investigate. Once they find evidence of a cockroach problem, your restaurant will be shut down until further notice.
Guess what happens if the local government shuts down your restaurant? It becomes public knowledge. Anybody with enough time and an internet connection can find out about your filthy past. But it doesn’t even have to get that far. What if customers take to Yelp or some other review site and publicize your critter problems? That’s going to be horrible for business.
And we’re talking about stuff that can really hurt you or make you sick. Cockroaches carry many different pathogens, diseases and forms of bacteria, not to mention the allergens they naturally produce. When those allergens are released into the air, they can aggravate sinus problems in people and even make asthma worse.
As any veteran pest control professional will tell you, a cockroach infestation produces an unmistakable oily, musty smell. When an infestation becomes large enough, this smell will be very noticeable inside your restaurant. And even if that doesn’t tip off customers, it will certainly be unpleasant.