Food safety is the number one priority in the food manufacturing industry, so it is no surprise that hygiene practices are highly scrutinised. In the food manufacturing industry, you must be diligent about the hygiene practices you use to protect the food you produce.
At Orbit Cleaning, we have been in the cleaning industry for over 30 years, and have seen our fair share of hygiene practices. We’ll share some of the best practices to ensure your facility is on top of its hygiene.
Importance of hygiene in the food manufacturing industry
The food manufacturing industry is one of the most hygienic industries, but it is also one of the most dangerous. Hygiene is the practice of cleaning and maintaining equipment and facilities to ensure that the facility is free of bacteria, mould, viruses, and other microorganisms. Hygiene practices are vital for preventing foodborne illnesses. Each year there are approximately 5.4 million cases of foodborne disease in Australia, resulting in 80 deaths. These illnesses are caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites, often found in food that has been handled in an unsafe manner or an unclean facility.
As well as the health risks, if your food manufacturing facility is found to be the source of an outbreak of food-borne disease, your company could be faced with legal ramifications, as well as reputational damage which is sometimes irreversible.
Hygiene policies in the food manufacturing industry
The importance of hygiene in the food manufacturing industry is to ensure the safety of the food you produce. Food safety is a critical component of any food manufacturing process.
Food manufacturing facilities need to be kept clean at all times. You must ensure your cleaning processes are up to date and your cleaning equipment is maintained properly.
When designing your cleaning policies, it is important to ensure you:
- Select the correct cleaning method for the equipment – this includes Wet or Dry cleaning, and Clean In Place or Clean Out of Place; and
- Ensure sanitising only takes place once the full cleaning process has been completed.
Following a HACCP plan is also critical when creating your hygiene policies. You can read more about the importance of HACCP here.
Hygiene checklists for food manufacturing industry
Food Standards Australia outline a number of steps that should be included in your hygiene checklists:
- The entire facility needs to be kept clean – this includes equipment, floors and walls
- Food scraps, grease, and other debris should not be left to accumulate
- Any items that come in contact with food should be cleaned and sanitised thoroughly
- Pre-clean utensils by removing food scraps and then rinse with water
- Hot water and detergent should be used to remove grease and any food residue that did not come off during pre-cleaning
- Ensure that detergent is completely rinsed off prior to sanitising
- Select an appropriate sanitisation method – this could include very hot water, bleach, alcohol or commercial sanitisation solution
- Air-dry equipment where possible
Orbit Cleaning Service Australia are commercial cleaners with over 30 years of industry experience. We take pride in our high-quality cleaning services, tailored specifically to the needs of our clients.
For more information about our food factory cleaning service, contact us on 1300 660 699.
