That’s great for scientists doing genetic research, because the fruit fly’s life cycle can be as short as only eight days. But it’s not so much fun when flies are buzzing around your kitchen. While the flies don’t sting or bite, they can cause foodborne illness by spreading bacteria from contaminated foods to other surfaces in the home. Research has shown that fruit flies are a significant vector in the spread of E. coli. Once you have a fruit fly infestation, you’ll want to eliminate them as quickly as possible (possibly with a homemade fruit fly trap). But, there are steps you can take to prevent an infestation of fruit flies from becoming a bigger problem. One key area to clean well is the kitchen sink and garbage disposal. Bits of food can become trapped in the drains. Clean and flush out drains and disposals well after each use for food preparation.
