Breaking News - the Kiwi sausage sizzle is almost legal

Hang on, you're telling me it's illegal?

Well......yes. According to the Food Act 1981 it is.

Incredibly, simple activities like fundraising sausage sizzles and cake stalls at school fairs need to comply with the Food Hygiene Regulations (1974) under the Food Act (1981). This means the poor old PTA and Sport's Club needs to have the same systems and processes in place as large business operations like retail food outlets and food processors.

Luckily the authorities recognise the inflexibility of the situation and generally turn a blind eye, otherwise we'd be paying about $20.00 for a sausage outside Bunnings. 

When the new Food Act 2014 finally comes into force there will be a clear exemption for these Kiwi traditions with the only rule being that the food sold must be safe. Viva le sausage and banana cake!

OK, so what's this got to do with pest control?

Well, a formal Pest Control Program will be an essential requirement under the Food Act 2014 if you are classed as high risk. That's;

• You prepare and/or sell meals (retail food).
• You process food and/or sell raw meat or seafood (food processors).

If you fall into a high risk category, you've got a significant work to do to meet the new requirements under the revised act.

Businesses classed as high risk will operate under far more stringent requirements including having a documented Food Control Plan, including a formal Pest Control Program. How well you manage/operate this food plan will have a direct impact on your compliance costs. Businesses performing well will require less frequent checks, business that not managing food safety well will receive extra attention.

Information on the implementation of the new Food Act is available here.

The good news is the new act won't come into full force until 1 March 2016, so you have a good period of time to change processes to meet the new requirements. As mentioned these are significant but we can help simplify the process for you.

The commercial team at Bug King have done a good amount of research on the new act and the requirements of this, Pest Control in particular. If you need any advice on this or an audit of your current processes and their compliance under the new law, please contact the team to arrange a time to discuss and review.

The team at Bug King              0800 KING KING (54 64 54)                 www.bugking.co.nz

New Zealand's deadliest spider?

The legend that is the Daddy Long Legs.

And it is just that, an Urban Legend.

We've all heard the about of the Daddy Long Legs. Apparently they have the world's most potent venom but it's OK, they can't bite us because their fangs are to small.

This is something I believed before I became your friendly pest controller and did a little research.

I don't know where the legend started but the Daddy Long Legs (the correct name is actually the Cellar Spider) can prey on other spiders including venomous spiders. So the reasoning goes, if the Daddy Long Legs can kill venomous spiders capable of killing humans then it must be even deadlier but it can't bite us for some reason.

The actual reason they can prey on venomous spiders isn't the strength of their venom but more a combination of speed and their web spinning ability.

For a good example of this check out the following video of a Daddy Long Legs vs White-tail Spider;

The venom of the Daddy Long Legs has been tested and found to be not that potent, even against other insects and although their fangs are small (about 0.25mm) they can still bite us. The good news is, if this happens the worst effect you'll feel will probably be a mild short-lived burning sensation.

It might even pay to keep them around to help take care of any White-tails..........provided you can put up with all those ugly webs that is.

The team at Bug King              0800 KING KING (54 64 54)                 www.bugking.co.nz