With all production processes both equipment and surfaces become contaminated with food residues, foreign bodies and microbial contamination. The removal of these contaminants, soil, is the process of cleaning.
Cleaning needs to be carried out in such a manner that is effective, efficient, without causing damage to personnel, equipment or surfaces and without causing cross or re-contamination. Holchem work with customers to optimise the cleaning procedures to ensure that all the requirements below are met at lowest cost of clean.
Cleaning Requirements
Cleaning should always be considered an essential and integral part of the production process for many reasons:
- Legislation – The Food Safety Act 1990, UK and EU regulations require that effective hygiene standards are implemented for anyone who handles, manufactures or serves food
- For microbial control - reducing bacterial numbers to an acceptable level for the product being produced
- Removing physical or chemical contamination
- Foreign body control
- Performance of the plant (for example: removal of build up on heat exchangers)
- Safety of the plant and operatives
- Discourage pests
- A pleasant and clean work environment to create the right impression for all
Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control
Most food manufacturing, brewery and beverage sites and chemical suppliers are covered by Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control Regulations (IPPC) which has the following objectives:
- Protection of the environment as a whole by preventing or minimising emissions to all media (air, land and water).
- Encourage reductions in raw materials and energy use and increased recycling and reuse.
- Promote the use of clean technology to reduce pollution at source.
- Encourage innovation, by leaving significant responsibility for developing satisfactory solutions to environmental issues with industrial operators.
Cost of Clean
The cost of cleaning for businesses has continued to steadily rise for a number of years; this places increasing pressure on profitability. The cost of detergent and disinfectant raw materials, water, effluent and energy has mostly risen above the rate of inflation.