19fbtechreview.comFEBRUARY 2025 insightscXoFOOD SAFETY: BATTLING BIOFILMS WITH THE 7 STEPS OF SANITATIONBiofilms are a community of bacterial cells that attach to each other and a surface. If they are not removed, they will continue to collect and attach to each other, making them more difficult to remove and allowing the bacteria an excellent place to grow and develop. Although biofilms are hard to remove, they can be removed if you follow the seven steps of sanitation and observe the four factors of the wash (TACT--Time, action, Concentration, and Temperature). Unfortunately, there is no golden ticket to removing biofilms, but if you follow the seven steps and have a good monitoring program, biofilms can be controlled and even prevented. Let's take a second and go through the seven steps.Step 1--Dry Pick- Up and DisassemblyThis step is important to remove bulk soil from the area prior to the start of sanitation. Removing protein from product contact surfaces and the floor, and picking up any trash or obstructions in the area that needs to be cleaned is key in this step. It is critical to ensure that any disassembly is completed at this time which will allow for more accurate detailed cleaning. Disassembly also allows for the inspection of any hard-to-reach areas and identification of any niches that may cause harborage or sites for bio-film growth.Step 2--Pre-RinsePre-rinse is necessary to perform a knock down of proteins and BY NICOLE POOL, DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SANITATION, HOSTESS BRANDSNicole Pool
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