Rodent-proof food containers are what every F&B business owner needs to transport and store their products, as they make it easier to send various goods without any hassle.
As we know, sending food is not as easy as sending ordinary goods. Imagine sending your food products from California to New York without using specialized platforms – they won’t last long!
Above all, food requires special handling to stay fresh and safe to consume when it arrives at its destination, especially when pests and rodents can damage it.
In this article, we will share the secret to safely and successfully sending food out of town without any rat disturbance by making them become rodent-proof food containers!
Is Shipping Container Rodent-Proof?
While standard shipping containers are mostly impervious to damage, unfortunately, they’re not fully rodent-proof by default.
Rats are known to be agile animals and can get through very small spaces, so they can get into containers through gaps that may not be visible.
Container doors, vents, and corner castings may have unsealed gaps. Rats can squeeze through openings as small as ½ inch.
Even worse? Rats can also enter the food shipping container from the floor weak point, as wooden or aging floors may develop cracks or rot.
If rats get into containers, they can damage the goods being shipped, carry diseases, or even make the container unsafe for transportation.
However, containers can be made highly resistant to rats and other pests with the right modifications and precautions.
How to Make Your Food Container More Rodent-Proof
To prevent rats from getting into containers, do the following steps!
Exterminate Pests Around the Container
Exterminating pests around the container site before use is a crucial first step in preventing rats and other vermin from entering your food storage container.
Even a tightly sealed container can become compromised if pests are already present in the surrounding area.
Rats can chew through insulation, gaskets, wood, and even light steel if motivated by nearby food or nesting materials.
Pre-treatment removes the source of the threat before it can migrate indoors. Preventing infestation from the beginning makes future maintenance easier and avoids costly damage or food loss.
Fumigate or Disinfect the Container Before Shipping
Fumigation is one of the requirements that must be met in shipping export or import goods in several countries, as it ensures that pests are dead and the goods being shipped do not carry diseases to the destination country.
However, fumigation of food shipping containers can be dangerous if not done correctly and according to procedure.
Generally, the disinfection process involves the use of toxic gases to kill pests, and if the gas is exposed to food, it can cause contamination and health risks.
When food containers are fumigated, the gas can stick to the food and cause contamination. This can make the food unsafe to eat and pose a health hazard.
Furthermore, only a professional with the proper equipment and knowledge can fumigate containers without causing the gas to contaminate food materials.
Install Pest-Proof Gaskets and Door Sweeps
Ensure that the container is tightly closed and there are no gaps that rats can get through.
Installing pest-proof gaskets and door sweeps on your food shipping container is one of the most effective physical defenses against rats and other pests.
These components help seal entry points around doors, where rodents most commonly squeeze through.
Even a ½-inch gap is large enough for rats to enter, so gaskets provide a tight seal along door edges, while door sweeps close the bottom gap.
Choose door sweeps that are made of stainless steel mesh or brush strips for extra durability.
This method will help prevent contamination and maintain the effectiveness of insulation, temperature control, and humidity systems.
Seal Vents with Mesh Screens
Sealing vents with mesh screens is a critical step in making rodent-proof food containers.
While ventilation is necessary to control moisture and temperature, unprotected vents can become an easy access point for rats and other pests.
Mesh allows for airflow while acting as a physical barrier against pests. It keeps out rodents and insects like flies, beetles, and cockroaches.
Furthermore, sealing the vents prevents contamination of food products and packaging and reduces the risk of disease spread from rodent droppings or nesting materials.
Elevate Containers Off the Ground
Rats typically enter from ground level, so elevating containers off the ground can reduce access points and help you detect early signs of pest activity or structural weakness.
Raising the container on blocks, piers, or steel beams makes it more difficult for pests to reach door seals or gaps.
Moreover, elevation allows you to inspect underneath for burrows, nests, or droppings. It also helps prevent moisture buildup, which attracts pests and causes rust or mold.
Inspect Floors Regularly
Regularly inspecting floors is a highly effective strategy for preventing rats from getting into your food storage container. Rats can chew through damaged plywood or steel flooring.
With that, cracks, holes, or rust patches become hidden entryways from beneath. Inspecting floors regularly can help you detect entry points early
Moreover, a compromised floor can lead to moisture intrusion, mold, or pest contamination. Routine checks allow you to fix problems before food is damaged.
While checking for the floor, you need to look for holes, corrosion, rodent droppings, chew marks, nesting materials, moisture, and leaks.
Avoid Storing Near Food Waste or Overgrown Vegetation
Avoiding the storage of your food shipping container near food waste or overgrown vegetation is essential to prevent rats and other pests from infiltrating the space.
These environmental factors act as powerful attractants and potential nesting grounds for rodents.
Discarded food, crumbs, or grease bins create a feeding hotspot. Once rats are nearby, they’ll search for more food, like what’s inside your container.
Moreover, tall grass, brush, and piles of leaves give rodents hiding places and nesting areas. Rodents use these as staging grounds to move toward your storage container.
Rats use cover from vegetation or debris to safely approach structures. Clean, open surroundings make it harder for them to travel unnoticed.
Use Rodent Traps or Deterrents Around and Under Containers
This is a proactive way to prevent rats from getting inside. Even with physical barriers like gaskets and mesh, traps and repellents add an extra layer of defense-targeting rodents before they reach your container.
Traps catch or kill rodents attempting to approach the container, and repellents discourage them from even trying to enter. The best trap placements are:
- Under the container, especially at corners and near entry points.
- Along rodent travel paths, such as along walls, fences, or foundations.
- Near trash bins or vegetation, if unavoidable.
For your safety, keep traps away from food inside the container and check traps regularly to dispose of captures and reset them.
Keep Food in Sealed Bins and Use Shelving to Avoid Contact with Walls or Floors
This is a critical strategy for preventing rats from accessing and contaminating your food supply in a shipping container.
Rats have an incredible sense of smell; unsealed bags or containers attract them quickly. Airtight, sealed bins trap food odors, making the storage area less appealing.
It protects against contamination. Even if a rodent enters the container, sealed bins prevent chewing through packaging, droppings, or urine contamination, and direct food contact.
For a better result, combine sealed storage and shelving with dehumidifiers and vent screens to create a full-spectrum defense against pests, mold, and spoilage.
Conclusion
You can have rodent-proof food containers with proper setup, but it requires active prevention measures, especially for food or medical storage.
If you are looking for a new or used Food Shipping Container, check out our products! Standing at the top of the industry, Tradecorp is widely known for its high-quality shipping containers open to so many creative applications. Fill out our quote form, and we’ll guide you in finding the best shipping container for your business goals!