A Comparison of Pre and Post COVID-19 Pandemic Pest Related Violations in Restaurants within the Fraser Health Authority

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the food service sector, particularly in-person dining at restaurants and bars, leading to a decrease in regular inspections by Environmental Health Officers (EHOs) in British Columbia. As restrictions on indoor dining ease, it is essential to ensure that food is being prepared and handled in a safe and sanitary manner. However, neglecting pest management and sanitation practices in restaurants can lead to food-borne illnesses. The research project investigated whether there had been an increase in the number and severity of pest-related violations in the Fraser Health Authority (FHA) following the COVID-19 pandemic

Methods: Electronic inspection data from FHA HealthSpace Cloud was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and NCSS 2023 Statistical Software. The data analysed only included routine restaurant inspections conducted in 2019 and 2022 throughout FHA’s jurisdiction. 2019 represented the year pre-COVID-19 while 2022 represented the year post COVID-19.

Results: The data analysis showed an increase in violations for code 304 (“Premises not free of pests”) and code 305 (“Conditions favoring pests”) and a decrease in code 306 (“Premises not maintained in a sanitary condition”) from 2019 to 2022. Statistically significant associations with the year of inspection were found for violation codes 304 and 306, while the observed increase in code 305 was not statistically significant. Mean violation scores for codes 304 and 306 were significantly higher in 2022 compared to 2019, indicating an increase in the severity of these violations post-pandemic. Regional differences were also identified, with Fraser North exhibiting the largest increase in the proportion of violations related to codes 304, 305, and 306.

Conclusion: The findings of this study show that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in pest-related violations in the FHA, with violation codes 304 and 306 displaying statistically significant associations with the year of inspection. These findings could also inform future research on pest management practices and the development of more effective pest control strategies during public health emergencies. Additionally, exploration of potential factors behind the discrepancy between the high proportions of pest-related violations in Fraser North and other regions in FH could be beneficial.