Food Industry Health Risks and How to Avoid Them
Every organisation operating in the food industry faces a great amount of responsibility in maintaining a clean and sanitary facility.
If errors occur within the manufacturing processes, food cultivation or production, the negative effects can be far reaching and devastating. This is often evidenced by incidences such as the listeria outbreak, pests being found in food, and general poor quality of produce once it reaches store shelves.
How are these risks managed, and what steps can facility managers within the food industry take to ensure that their products are safe for consumption?
One of the biggest challenges for facility managers within the food industry is that demand and production are high, and many facilities feel the pressure of trying to keep up with what is needed. As a result, substandard cleaning practices are often unintentionally employed. In many such cases facility managers feel that they have facilities that are clean because they appear clean.
However, not all disease threats are visible. A seemingly clean facility could still be a potential breeding ground for diseases such as listeria; “It can also ‘hide away’ in cracks or niches in factories.”
So, what practices should facility managers be employing to reduce these risks and ensure that their facilities truly are healthy ones? In order to keep up with the demand and ensure that their facilities are properly looked after many facility managers opt for employing contract cleaners to manage their facilities.
“Contract cleaners are a great option, however, if the correct contractors are not used employing their services can be very risky indeed.”
It is important that facility managers vet their contract cleaners and make sure that they are using appropriate cleaning practices. Facility managers need to ensure that these contract cleaners are using eco-friendly and organic products. Not only are these products better for the environment as a whole and often more cost effective, but they also ensure that the facilities are not being exposed to harsh chemicals and pollutants (which could potentially make the environment even more hazardous for food and the subsequent health of those who consume it).
Maintaining a clean and sanitary facility, and then having to manage the very contract cleaners hired to help lift that load, can feel like a double burden. This is where professional cleaning consultants come in. Not only do they assess the current state of the facility, they can also guide the facility managers towards an effective and manageable strategy for the cleaning and maintenance of the facility.
These cleaning consultants also have the expert industry knowledge required to help facility managers select contract cleaners who are cleaning with the most effective and eco-friendly processes and products.
There are a number of reputable companies in South Africa that supply equipment, cleaning materials and expertise. these include PHT, Industro Clean, Glenchem, Bidvest Steiner, Empact Group – Supercare, Entecom, Goscor, Prime Cleaning Suppliers, Pescatech, Ecowize, Green Worx and Lindol Hygiene to name but a few.
PHT – Hygiene and Food Safety are our passion
PHT is the food industry’s partner for hygiene and technology. We offer holistic, customized solutions to ensure your facility and personnel operate at the highest hygiene standards to produce safe food efficiently. Our innovative hygiene solutions span both personnel and facility hygiene.
With more than 25 years of experience in the food industry, we can advise you on the best options for access control, change room setup, cleaning and disinfection of workers’ hands, soles and boots, draining systems, deboning and conveyor systems, and equipment for cleaning and drying in your facility.
GREEN WORX BIO CLEANING SOLUTIONS
We make South Africa’s greenest cleaning products. Tough on dirt, Gentle on the environment
Following extensive research, Green Worx teamed up with the world’s foremost technologically advanced bio enzyme and sustainable surfactant producers to offer reliable, affordable, effective, and green industrial cleaning solutions.
Our institutional and industrial products utilise natural eco-friendly processes to clean and deodorise in ways that are beneficial to the environment and your facility, providing long-lasting effects that keep working long after the product is applied.
ENTECOM
For over sixteen years, Entecom has been assisting businesses with Food Safety and Quality System certification using our consulting and training support services designed to equip staff with the necessary skills to implement, maintain effective Food Safety and Quality Management Systems.
Entecom offers a wide variety of training programmes aimed at equipping your food safety team with the essential knowledge and skills to manage and control food safety and quality.
GLENCHEM
GlenChem is a manufacturer and distributor of a complete range of detergents, disinfectants and specialised chemical products, recognised amongst the best available with a proven track record.
We’ve been focussed on chemical solutions and building relationships since 1972. So with great pride we say that in 5 decades, we have never lost focus on these corner-stones of our business.
INDUSTROCLEAN
Since 1968, Industroclean has been a leader in commercial cleaning products, delivering hygiene solutions to a range of leading South African businesses.
Our wide product offering has every surface in your business covered, ensuring high hygiene standards. We produce a collection of incredibly effective cleaning chemicals. We also stock some of the world’s most admired cleaning machinery and offer spares, servicing, maintenance, and training.
BIDVEST STEINER
Bidvest Steiner is a service-orientated organisation providing hygiene rental equipment, office consumables, deep cleaning, and pest control services to various businesses and institutions across all industries
PESCATECH
It’s our passion for cleaning that sets us apart. And, after more than two decades in the game, we’re still as committed to delivering the most effective and best quality cleaning solutions. As the leading importer and distributor of premium grade cleaning solutions and products in South Africa, you can rely on us to find the most technologically advanced products and brands.
EMPACT GROUP/SUPERCARE
Supercare by Empact Group offers contract and specialised cleaning for a wide range of commercial, industrial, healthcare, education, transport and retail environments.Supercare by Empact Group delivers outstanding hygiene and pest management solutions to the highest standards of excellence to all industries and environments.
ECOWIZE
Ecowize has grown to become an industry leader in the South African market as well as abroad.
Specializing in high performance, high compliance cleaning solutions covering any and all aspects of hygiene from food safety and biosecurity, bringing you what you need from farm to fork..
Here at Ecowize we offer a diverse range of specialised chemical and equipment management, as well as custom cleaning and hygiene services catered not only to the food industry but any industry. We offer food grade brush ware, Pest prevention and control services and essential washroom hygiene solutions, keeping your workplace clean and increasing productivity in the process.
