Sanitation

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With warmer weather comes increased pest pressures, threatening flock health and food safety in pre-harvest poultry operations. Insects and rodents act as vectors for pathogens, making robust integrated pest management, complemented by effective chemical control, essential to reducing contamination risks.

IAFNS-supported researchers have developed a low-moisture cleaning solution that is not only effective and less of a hazard for workers and plants, but also has the potential to save cleaning time.

This episode of Food Safety Five discusses new research on the use of cold plasma technologies for biofilm inactivation and reducing allergenic risk, deriving more accurate “sell by” dates based on microbial changes on meat, and ultra-processed food nutrition and purchasing realities.

In this bonus episode of Food Safety Matters, we speak to Dr. Alissa Welsher, Senior Consultant at Elanco Poultry Food Safety, about how preharvest poultry operations can get ahead of increasing insect activity seen in warmer months with robust integrated pest management (IPM) and insecticide solutions.

Studies funded by the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) are investigating ways to improve produce packinghouse brush sanitation, including the use of antimicrobial light and choosing the best time to replace brushes.

A new study demonstrated the efficacy of far-UV-C light at 222 nm for inactivating human norovirus on surfaces. As it is safe for humans, researchers believe UV-C 222 could enable real-time, continuous disinfection in enclosed foodservice settings and food processing environments.

Element Six and Oxi Tech Solutions have partnered to develop an ozone-powered, synthetic diamond-enabled sanitation solution, which the company says enhances the safety, eco-friendliness, and effectiveness of industrial cleaning.

Researchers achieved microbial reductions of 1.56–1.64 log CFU/cm² by applying plasma-activated water and water–chemical solutions to dual-species E. coli biofilms on stainless steel, suggesting the technology’s potential as a sustainable, safe alternative to traditional sanitizer treatments.

Sanitation teams in food production facilities must remove stubborn residues while meeting strict hygiene requirements and maintaining production timelines. 

Realizing measurable improvement in food safety performance rests largely on the culture of your company. Dedicated investment in optimizing your organization's food safety culture—from the boardroom to the warehouse, and throughout your entire supply chain—offers significant returns in the form of regulatory compliance, mitigated recall risk, enhanced consumer trust, and a more skilled and invested workforce.