Consumers place a lot of trust in the hands of food manufacturers, that the food they are purchasing has been processed using appropriate and sanitary processes. The increase of food allergies and plant-based diets have increased the importance of operating a clean and hygienic environment. This underpins the importance of a robust sanitisation checklist.
Why is Sanitisation Important?
Undertaking best practice when it comes to cleaning and sanitising food manufacturing plants should be of the utmost importance. Shortcuts should be avoided at any cost. Operating in an unhygienic environment could mean disaster, as even a single case of food-borne illnesses or cross-contamination incident takes place.
There is also a legal requirement in Australia to operate a hygienic food processing environment. All food manufacturing businesses must adhere to the Food Standards Australia New Zealand. This may mean a failed food safety audit from state or council, which can lead to considerable fines. Hazardous food products could also open your business up to claims of negligence or other legal actions. Apart from legal consequences, food safety incidents can lead to reputation damage. Negative reviews and sentiment towards your brand are often hard to undo and, in some instances, permanent.
How does Sanitisation fit in the cleaning process?
It is important when operating a food manufacturing business to ensure you take all necessary steps to minimise the risk of food-borne contaminants. This should be done by following a well-documented sanitisation process. It is essential that the team responsible for cleaning your facility is experienced in undertaking food manufacturing cleaning.
Cleaning and sanitising are separate procedures, and sanitising is distinct from sterilising. Cleaning involves the removal of visible debris, such as food scraps. Sanitisation destroys microorganisms, such as illness-causing germs, to a safe level. Sterilisation completely removes all microorganisms. Food Safety Standards require food preparation surfaces to be sanitised, sterilisation is not required.
Sanitisation can’t take place without cleaning first!
Many sanitisation methods are ineffective if there is food or detergents present. There are six phases to the sanitisation process. These are:
- Pre Wash – preparing surfaces for process
- Sweeping – removing loose debris
- Foaming – applying cleaning solution
- Scrubbing – manual scrubbing of all equipment
- Washing – rinsing away cleaning solution
- Sanitising – applying final sanitisation solution
The sanitisation process required in food processing facilities is substantially different than that of a regular commercial clean to ensure hygiene standards are met. Each plant is different, so it’s also important to ensure that the cleaning process is tailored to your facility.
The importance of a Sanitisation Checklist
It is important that your sanitisation process is documented in a checklist to ensure it is completely undertaken each time your facility is cleaned. Here at Orbit Cleaning, we create a tailored sanitisation checklist for each facility we clean. Your sanitisation checklist should be kept in an easily accessible place so all members of your team can ensure the entire process is completed each time.
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 cleaning service for food industries, contact us on 1300 660 699.
