Running a food business is not just about serving appetizing food. It is also essential to maintain a clean and germ-free environment to ensure that disease-causing pathogens are eliminated. However, when it comes to businesses involving food, it is not ideal to use ordinary sanitizers. It is a must to use food-safe sanitizers to ensure the safe and worry-free operation of a food business.
Foodborne illnesses and cross-contamination are just some of the problems that you need to avoid. With food-safe sanitizers, you’re taking the necessary step to protect the health of your customers.
What is a Food-Safe Sanitizer?
Also known as food-grade sanitizers, these products have undergone testing and certification to be used for food contact. With a food-safe sanitizer, you can be sure that safety is guaranteed even when it comes into contact with food.
Sanitizers that have not been tested and certified safe pose risks especially when accidentally ingested.
Why You Must Use a Food-Safe Sanitizer
- Lower the risk of cross-contamination and prevent the spread of foodborne illnesses
- Establish a good reputation by keeping a clean and sanitized environment
- Get rid of the most common illness-causing bacteria and viruses in food businesses such as:
- E. coli
- Listeria
- Norovirus
- Salmonella
- Staphylococcus aureus (food poisoning)
- Common Cold
- Flu
- Be accountable for offering a safe and excellent dining experience for your customers
Keeping your environment clean is not enough. A food-grade sanitizer would be essential to maintain sanitation and safety at the same time. Here’s a range of food-safe sanitizers that you may use in cleaning your area of operation.
Types of Food-Safe Sanitizers
There are several sanitizers that are approved for use on food contact surfaces. These are the products that contain the following active ingredients:
HYPOCHLORITES
This is a type of food-safe sanitizer that is widely used due to its cost-effectiveness. Its affordability and effectiveness in sanitizing surfaces make it a popular choice among other types of food-safe sanitizers.
Note: This is not a preferred sanitizer for spores, like Clostridium perfringens, as they are resistant to hypochlorites
CHLORINE DIOXIDE
This is another commonly used food-safe sanitizer that can be used for food processing and food service operations. Chlorine Dioxide is a broad sanitizer that works against bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
IODOPHORS
Although these compounds are less active than hypochlorites and chlorine dioxide sanitizers, these food-safe sanitizers are still highly effective. Iodophors are ideal to be used on glass and waterproof materials.
PEROXYACETIC ACID (PAA)
As this food-safe sanitizer is active against a range of bacteria, fungi, and spores, they are most effective in the removal of biofilms. They are very useful in a cold environment and are less corrosive to equipment. Usually, they come in two types: acetic aid and hydrogen peroxide.
QUATERNARY AMMONIUM COMPOUNDS (QUATS)
Quats are also popular food-safe sanitizers as they are odorless, nonstaining, and non-corrosive. They are also effective to use against a wide range of germs and bacteria and prove to function in different temperature ranges.
These food-safe sanitizers should be diluted to a certain concentration for maximum efficacy. Using too much could lead to excessive residues that are not approved by the FDS. On the other hand, using too little could compromise the efficacy and safety of the sanitizer.
ALSO READ: Harmful Ingredients that You Won’t Find in Non-Toxic Cleaning Products
Your food business can comply with strict cleaning and sanitizing protocols with the help of food-safe sanitizers. Know the right sanitizer that can help ensure health and safety in your establishment. Likewise, you have to follow recommended concentration and ingredients for the best results.
Sanitation plays a key role in infection control and helps keep illness-causing germs and microorganisms at bay. If you are looking for a supplier of natural sanitizer in the Philippines, reach out to us. BestLab offers food-grade sanitizers that you can use for a wide range of disinfection applications for solid surfaces and even on perishable goods. Inquire about our products today.
