Polished Prep Areas
- Top five cleaning tips for the food and beverage industry -
In an industry where hygiene is paramount to the welfare of customers and the reputation of organisations, applying the correct cleaning products and methods is of the utmost importance.
Daniel Marr, Group Marketing Manager at West Yorkshire based chemical manufacturer and distributor Airedale Chemical, provides the company’s top tips for pristine food and drink preparation areas:
- 1. Choose the right product for your needs
There are many cleaning products on the market, all with their own merits and qualities. But it is important to select the right chemicals for your needs. Bleach may have been the obvious choice to cover all cleaning requirements at one point, but there are now an increasingly greater variety of products on the market. One of the most popular choices for the food and beverage industry is peracetic acid, also known as PAA. Its versatility is one of the reasons it is emerging as one of the top choices for maintaining impeccable standards of hygiene in food preparation and circulation cleaning. A huge benefit is it rinses away completely and at low levels leaves no residue whatsoever, making it ideal for the food and beverage industry as it does not linger on surfaces, and so does not affect the taste or content of food and drink products.
- 2. Consider the environment
Whilst it is vital to ensure all bacteria in your equipment and facilities are eradicated, this can have an adverse on the environment. Some harsher chemicals, when washed away can go on to kill off the micro-organisms in our streams and waterways as well as the creatures at the very bottom of the food chain.
Whilst PAA is a strong disinfectant it will not affect the micro-environment and is harmless as it breaks down into biodegradable base elements of acid, hydrogen and water. So, once rinsed away it is not a threat to organisms in our rivers. This makes it an ideal solution for processes such as bottling plants.
- 3. Protect your equipment
Some cleaning products, whilst effective in disinfecting facilities and equipment, can be so strong that they can cause damage. Ideally, equipment should be corrosion-resistant to allow thorough and rigorous cleansing without fear of damage. However, there are some products which are effective and non-corrosive, such as peracetic acid,which provide strong disinfecting and biocidal cleaning without causing damage to metal surfaces.
- 4. Keep up with increasing legislation
The food and drink sector is governed by a raft of laws and guidelines which are ever-changing and updating. Regulations protecting the environment, foods standards, European legislation and recommendation from the Food Standards Agency all have influence over how food and drink preparation areas must operate and be treated. It is important to keep abreast of these changes to not only operate within the correct laws, but also to provide the highest standards in hygiene for your customers and end users.
- 5. Safeguard the welfare of your operatives
The number one priority in any business is to ensure the health and safety of its employees. Within the food and beverage industry, the potential risks and hazards to staff are greater than many other industries. Providing the correct protection against the chemicals and equipment used is imperative. Many of the cleaning products used in industrial settings such as abattoirs, food manufacturing plants and breweries are a much greater strength than those used domestically, and as such should be treated appropriately. Whilst bleach is viewed as a mild irritant to the skin, some newer, more sophisticated products have the potential to be more harmful. Understanding the labelling of hazardous chemicals is also essential to ensure the correct treatment and handling procedures are followed, and thus the potential for accidents and injuries is reduced.
For more information on utilising the correct chemicals safely and effectively throughout the food and drink industry, visit www.airedalechemical.com.
For more media information please contact Helen Elson or Anisha Mistry at Approach on 01943 603805 or email anisha@approachpr.com.
Airedale Chemical is a West Yorkshire-based chemical manufacturer and distributor for the bulk chemical industry. Established in 1973, the company specialises in the manufacture of industrial chemicals, surfactants, phosphates, phosphonates and dye stuff to an expansive range of market sectors.
Its ISO9001 and ISO14001 accredited manufacturing plant facilitates operations such as mixing, blending, chemical reaction and chemical product development.
Airedale Chemical is a leader in chemical toll manufacturing and can undertake a variety of blends on-site from one to 60 tonnes for any type of customer.
Uniquely, Airedale Chemical owns and operates its own chemical transportation fleet allowing it to provide a flexible and reactive chemical distribution service.
Airedale Chemical serves a range of market sectors including food and drink manufacturing, brewing, agriculture, dairy, water treatment, textiles, cleaning and engineering, to name a few.
To find out more about its products, chemical distribution, chemical manufacturing and toll manufacturing for the UK chemical industry, visit www.airedalechemical.com
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