How Flies Affect UK Businesses and What You Can Do About It

Table of Contents

• 1. Introduction
• 2. Why Flies Are Bad for Business
• 3. Most Common Types of Flies in Commercial Premises
• 4. Sectors Most at Risk
• 5. Key Areas Where Flies Thrive
• 6. Prevention Measures Businesses Can Take
• 7. Fly Control Methods That Work
• 8. Why Professional Fly Control Matters
• 9. Final Thoughts

Introduction

Businesses with flies don’t go together. In business environments—especially those handling food, healthcare, or public services—they pose serious risks to hygiene, compliance, and reputation. Whether it’s a fruit fly circling the salad bar or a cluster of house flies near a bin store, customers notice. And when they do, they often don’t come back.

In places like Didcot, Wallingford, and other parts of Oxfordshire, summer fly problems are common. But year-round indoor infestations also affect many businesses, particularly those with warm, damp areas or poor waste management.

Why Flies Are Bad for Business

Health Risks

Flies carry more than 200 types of harmful bacteria. By landing on faeces, rubbish, drains, and then food or work surfaces, they spread pathogens like:

• E. coli
• Salmonella
• Listeria
• Shigella sonnei (most common cause of dysentery in the UK)

For businesses in food service or healthcare, one fly can start a chain of contamination that puts customers or patients at risk.

Brand Damage

Customers associate businesses and flies with filth. A single fly in a restaurant, café, care home, or reception area can lead to poor reviews, loss of trade, and complaints to local authorities.

Most Common Types of Flies in Commercial Premises

• House flies: Thrive near food, bins, and warm surfaces. They breed rapidly and carry diseases.
• Fruit flies: Attracted to fermenting produce, juices, and sugary spills. Very common in bars, kitchens, and food counters.
• Drain flies: Live in moist organic matter, especially in drains and pipes.
• Meat flies: Also known as bluebottles or blow flies, they are drawn to raw meat, animal waste, and carrion. These flies are especially problematic for butchers, food waste areas, and food factories.

Sectors Most at Risk

Food Industry

Cafés, takeaways, bakeries, and restaurants attract flies with open food, waste, and sugary ingredients. The Food Standards Agency requires strict pest control in food preparation areas.

Care and Healthcare Settings

Flies pose health risks to elderly or immunocompromised residents. Homes, clinics, and hospitals must remain pest-free to meet Care Quality Commission (CQC) standards.

Warehouses and Food Storage

Stored goods, loading bays, and waste compactors offer ideal breeding sites if left unchecked.

Offices and Shared Workspaces

Businesses with flies may not seem like a priority in offices, but they have kitchens, bins, and break rooms often attract them, especially when food is left out.

Key Areas Where Flies Thrive

• Waste areas and external bin stores
• Kitchen drains and grease traps
• Food displays and salad bars
• Cleaning cupboards and mop buckets
• Light fittings and windows
• Composting zones or landscaping bins

Flies don’t need much to breed. A bit of spilled drink in a bin or a fruit peel behind a cupboard is enough.

Prevention Measures Businesses Can Take

• Empty bins regularly: Waste should go into sealed containers and be removed daily.
• Clean drains and mop heads: Organic build-up attracts drain flies quickly.
• Install fly screens: Doors, windows, and air vents should stay screened or shut during fly season.
• Store food properly: Always keep food sealed and covered when not in use.
• Clean up spills immediately: Sugary or fermented liquids draw fruit flies within hours.

Training your team to spot the early signs and maintain good hygiene prevents issues before they escalate.

Fly Control Methods That Work

Electronic Fly Killers (EFKs)

UV light units attract and eliminate flies discreetly. Ideal for kitchens, food prep zones, and storage areas.

Fly Papers and Glue Boards

Low-cost and simple, these help monitor and reduce fly populations in low-risk areas like storerooms or staff rooms.

Insect Screens and Air Curtains

Install these on doorways or loading bays to block flies from entering in the first place.

Non-Toxic Sprays and Misting Systems

These control adult fly populations in indoor spaces while remaining food-safe and eco-friendly.

Why Professional Fly Control Matters

Some fly infestations don’t respond to basic cleaning or traps. If you notice constant fly activity, clusters of larvae, or repeated issues near food storage, it’s time to call a professional.

At Shire Pest Solutions, we support local businesses in Didcot, Wallingford, and surrounding areas with fast, discreet fly control. Our trained technicians:

• Identify the species and source
• Apply targeted, safe treatments
• Provide advice for long-term prevention
• Keep your business compliant with UK regulations

We tailor fly control to your business sector, building layout, and operational needs.

Final Thoughts

Flies don’t just threaten hygiene—they threaten reputations, compliance, and customer trust. In a business environment, ignoring even minor fly activity could lead to major consequences.

Take action before flies damage your brand or lead to an inspection failure. With the right prevention measures and professional support, you can keep your business fly-free and fully compliant.

For more tips, visit our Pest Control Blog or contact Shire Pest Solutions to schedule a site inspection today.