Food Processing Industry: 10 Cleaning Practices

It’s very crucial to follow the best practices for cleaning and sanitation for businesses in the food industry to ensure health and safety, and to achieve success. Making sure that these practices are adhered to can help businesses thrive in this industry.

This blog post is perfect for food businesses seeking to achieve the highest standards of food safety, cleaning, and sanitation. By reading on, you’ll discover the best practices, effective solutions for personal hygiene, and an effective process for cleaning in the food processing industry.

Understanding Wet and Dry Cleaning Methods in the Food Industry 

Wet and dry cleaning methods are two types of cleaning techniques commonly used in the food industry.

Wet cleaning involves the use of water and cleaning chemicals to remove dirt, grease, and other contaminants from surfaces. It’s an effective method for removing food residue and is commonly used for floors, walls, and equipment. The process typically involves spraying the surface with cleaning solution, agitating it with a brush or pad, and rinsing it with water.

Dry cleaning, on the other hand, uses tools like brushes, vacuums, and compressed air to remove debris and dust from surfaces. This method is commonly used for equipment and areas where water can’t be used, like electrical equipment or areas with water-sensitive flooring. 

Both methods are important in maintaining hygiene and preventing the spread of bacteria and other contaminants in the food industry. A combination of both wet and dry cleaning methods is typically used to ensure that all surfaces and equipment are properly cleaned.

1. Implement Separate Areas for Food Preparation and Storage 

Assessing the way food is stored and prepared is essential before tidying the workplace. It’s important to have separate areas for food preparation and storage in every kitchen. Raw and cooked foods should never touch each other to prevent potential issues for customers. 

2. All Staff Should be Trained 

Ensure that all staff members in your organization are trained on the cleaning practices required in the food industry. It’s important to train new staff as soon as they join your company, and regularly refresh the knowledge of all staff members, even if you use the services of industrial cleaning companies.

3. Fridges Should be Well-Maintained 

Daily wiping down of fridges is crucial in the food industry to prevent the spread of bacteria. Unlike in your home, it is essential to make sure that you clean your workplace fridge regularly. It is a common practice in the food industry, and it will help prevent contamination. Furthermore, ensure that food is sealed in airtight containers in the fridge to avoid contamination between various liquids and foods.

4. Manage Your Rubbish Bins 

In the food industry, proper management of rubbish bins is crucial. It’s essential to keep an eye on them and make sure they are emptied at the end of each day to prevent potential pests from entering the kitchen. If there are any spills or messes near the bins, it’s important to clean them up immediately. Although vermin can be a challenge in the food industry, ensuring the cleanliness of the rubbish bins is a non-negotiable aspect that cannot be overlooked. 

5. Equipment Needs to be Clean at All Times 

We often tend to focus on cleaning larger areas in our workplaces, such as the floors and surfaces. Your equipment also needs to be kept clean, including towels and uniforms. Make sure this is drummed into your staff as well, to avoid germs from building up and spreading. For instance, your steam boiler should be well-cleaned since it’s commonly used in the food processing industry as a source of heat to cook and sterilize food products.

6. Floors Must be Cleaned Every Night 

Regardless of how late it is, it is important to follow this industrial cleaning tip and clean and mop your floors at the end of the day, even though it may be tempting to run away from work and head home. Leaving food scraps on the floor overnight could attract vermin, so it’s best not to postpone the task until the morning. 

7. Organize a Cleaning Schedule 

Create a schedule for your staff to follow in order to establish a good cleaning routine. This will help them know what tasks need to be completed each morning and night, enabling them to stay on top of cleaning without requiring excessive micromanagement from you.

8. Examine Your Water Quality 

It is recommended to analyze the quality of water used for sanitation purposes every year. The type of water in your local area and its potential challenges, especially with hard water, should be considered to determine the best cleaning methods. 

9. Don’t Forget the Drains 

Due to the invisibility of drains, they are often overlooked when it comes to regular cleaning. However, bacteria can quickly accumulate in this area, leading to sanitation and cleaning issues. It is important to include drain cleaning in the weekly schedule of a team member or discuss this with the industrial cleaning team. 

10. Leaders Should Also Participate in Cleaning 

It is important for leaders to participate in cleaning their workplace to set an example for their employees in the food industry. We suggest cleaning alongside your team whenever possible to demonstrate your expectations for maintaining a top-notch workplace.  

Steam boilers are commonly used in the food processing industry as a source of heat to cook and sterilize food products. The steam produced by the boilers can be used to cook food, pasteurize liquids such as milk, and sterilize equipment and packaging materials. 

The use of steam in food processing is preferred over other methods because it is efficient, consistent, and can be easily controlled. In addition, steam is a safe and environmentally friendly method of heating, as it does not produce harmful byproducts or emissions. Overall, steam boilers play a critical role in the food processing industry by providing the necessary heat and sterilization required to produce safe and high-quality food products.