Hygiene and cleanliness in food production are important factors to consider. It’s not only about commercial risk; there are also legal responsibilities. This is why it’s critical never to take anything for granted in your food production sector. Food processing facility cleaning services are essential because they assure the safety of the food you touch and manufacture. If food safety and hygiene standards are not adhered to, customers risk becoming gravely ill from food poisoning and other foodborne illnesses. As a result, food safety and cleanliness are critical to protecting customers’ health.
History Of Cleanliness Regulations
Until 1906, the nation lacked rules mandating food businesses to avoid cross-contamination of foods. Humans have evolved methods of food processing over time to minimize the danger of illness. These include the following:
- Food pickling
- Adding salt to food
- Smoked food
- Food fermentation
- Food preparation
Please remember that most of these were created by trial and error, as no one was aware that bacteria or viruses were causing the problems. Humans only knew these strategies worked when it came to preventing illness caused by eating. Cleaning could not prevent disease when dealing with foods until tiny germs and viruses were identified.
Cross-Contamination
Cross-contamination is a major concern in the food business; bacteria and other germs can be transmitted accidentally from one product or surface, typically with harmful consequences. Whether via direct or indirect contamination, a lack of appropriate cleaning and hygiene significantly increases the risk of gastroenteritis or severe allergic responses.
Control of Pests
Surface and floor cleaning are critical for insect control. Rats, for example, are capable of spreading germs and resulting in food poisoning. Saliva, dead skin cells, and urine can elicit allergic responses and asthma attacks due to their rapid spread through rats’ hair. Maintaining proper hygiene habits will aid in pest management; frequent Food processing facility cleaning services reduce the likelihood of pests but also aids in locating them quickly if they do present.
Allergens
While there are over 160 meals that might cause an allergic reaction, eight major foods account for more than 90% of all allergic reactions. Keeping these major allergies under control avoids the majority of responses, which is why milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, fish, tree nuts (such as cashews and almonds), and shellfish (crustaceans) are termed the Big Eight foods.
What are the consequences of improperly cleaned food processing equipment and areas?
As these two case studies demonstrate, improperly cleaned work environments significantly threaten the firm, its employees, and consumers in the food processing industry.
- Beer brewing
Beer is one of the most popular alcoholic beverages. The fermentation process is carried out using yeast. Microorganisms, on the other hand, can induce microbial deterioration throughout the manufacturing process. Among the organisms that may be found in damaged beer are the following:
- Microorganisms that produce lactic acid
- Bacteria that produce acetic acid
- Species of Zymomonas
- Species of Pectinatus
- Molds
- Yeast that is not domesticated
- Enterobacteriaceae
Bacteria may sabotage the fermentation process, resulting in high-cost spoiling and the production of undesirable byproducts. What’s more troubling is that these bacteria can survive the manufacturing process and end up in the completed product, putting customers’ health at risk.
- Meat and poultry
Raw meat and poultry items that are mistreated or used in unsanitary conditions are at a high risk of contracting pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia, which can all result in a variety of issues, including:
- Illness to the customer
- spoiling the product.
- Meat putrefaction.
The majority of meat is delivered uncooked, to be cooked afterward. Clean work conditions are critical, and food processing locations that handle raw meat should be cleaned and disinfected regularly to avoid cross-contamination.
Food processing facility cleaning services five critical procedures:
- Each surface should be cleaned using the proper cleanser and technique. While an all-purpose cleaner may be used for various tasks around the house, it should be purpose-built for the factory floor.
- When cleaning a wet floor, use a squeegee or squeegee mop rather than brooms or brushes since they are easier to clean.
- Flush and sweep dirt with the appropriate temperature water.
- Sanitiser should be applied only after a thorough cleaning.
How To Keep Working Surfaces In The Food Industry Clean?
Establish A Cleaning Plan
Establishing a cleaning schedule and strategy is the first step in keeping work surfaces and the whole facility clean and disinfected. Hiring Food processing facility cleaning services is also critical to your success. A cleaning plan is critical because it prevents staff from deciding what and when to clean. This ensures that every potential danger is handled in your cleaning strategy. The following are some examples of what a Food processing facility cleaning services plan should include:
- What to Clean: A cleaning plan should include a detailed inventory of all items that require cleaning. The list should be comprehensive and have every surface that might potentially produce cross-contamination.
- When to Clean: It is insufficient to believe a place seems clean. Bacteria and viruses are invisible and may develop into enormous colonies without anybody knowing. Establishing a cleaning plan ensures that these spaces are appropriately cleaned.
- Which Instruments to Use:In the food business, cleaning requires that specified areas be immaculate and sanitized, not simply wiped down. Using the appropriate cleaning equipment for the work at hand will help maintain a clean surface rather than whatever is available. A strategy will ensure that staff are aware of the proper instruments to use for sanitizing.
- Cleaners to Use:Not all cleaners are created equal, even if the result is the same. For example, a Food processing facility cleaning services plan must include a solution for each piece of equipment cleaned. This method produces the greatest results but might be hazardous in a food setting if the incorrect cleaner is applied at the wrong time or location.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE): The cleaning strategy should include and enforce personal protective equipment for staff protection.
- What should we do with Trash: The cleaning plan should include a section on proper waste disposal. Scrubbing a food prep station and then tossing the filthy cloth onto another clean tabletop is not a smart practice. The cleaning plan should include managing filthy rags, sponges, and even dirty water after mopping.
Clean Surfaces
Restaurants, food processing plants, and other food-handling operations all have two characteristics. They work with a variety of the meals mentioned previously and have a limited workspace. The primary source of bacteria and viruses cross-contamination is using the same surfaces to prepare different meals. These surfaces must be cleaned and disinfected often to avoid cross-contamination. More precisely, they must be cleaned between distinct food groups that may be present in the characters. Ascertain that no food is introduced into an area that has not been thoroughly cleaned or is still being cleaned.
Disinfect Any Items That Have Been Touched
As noted previously, each object that is handled by hand has the potential to transfer germs and viruses. The following is a list of things that need to be cleaned.
- Doorknobs
- Mop Buckets handles
- Restrooms
- Tables and Chairs in Common
- Outlets and Light Switches
- Refrigerators
- Food carts
- Hoods for Vents
Expert Cleaning
To handle the cleaning and sanitizing outside of your plan’s daily operations, engage a Food processing facility cleaning service to perform deep cleaning and sanitizing regularly. A competent firm will have the necessary gear and knowledge to clean difficult-to-reach areas and fully sterilize the whole work area.
