Maximising Efficiency and Productivity with Open Plant Cleaning Solutions in the Food and Beverage Industry      

As John Wesley, the co-founder of Methodism once said: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” And nothing can be truer when it comes to open plant cleaning. Open plant cleaning is essential in the food and beverage (F&B) industry. It is a very important link in ensuring the hygienic production process of pre-prepared food, drinks, and other consumable goods. An effective management oversight process; an efficient, well-trained team of janitorial staff; and a good industrial cleaning system are essential for this process.

Why Implement Open Plant Cleaning?

Open plant cleaning means that all mixing machines, ovens, conveyor belts, and working surfaces in a food-production area are thoroughly sterilised, disinfected, and cleaned before a new batch of product is produced. This includes floors and thoroughfares between sections, from the delivery of ingredients and preparation areas to the weighing and packaging of the finished products and dispatch area.

Colour-coded janitorial equipment is always an advantage to separate cleaning utensils from one area to another to prevent cross-contamination between these various preparation phases.

Focus on the Good Bacteria and the Bad

Just because the production of quality food products is not our core focus, it does not mean that our experts at Pescatech can ignore the cleaning processes necessary for a disinfected food-processing factory – which is our core focus. To the contrary, insufficient hygiene in your food-production area could be disastrous for your end product, and we specialise in making your end product the most germ-free and purist product it can be.

Microbiology is a science that might make or break your F&B production line. While some good microbes such as moulds, yeast, and other bacteria are effectively employed to produce foods and beverages like bread, wine, beer, dairy products, and more, giving your brand its unique flavour and desired taste or texture; others could result in localised food poisoning, or could cause a complete shutdown of your production line.

Preventing Growth of Pathogenic Microorganisms

Open plant cleaning assists in preventing the growth of bad microbes and the infestation of pathogenic microorganisms (harmful bacteria), which are organisms that might cause infection, illness, disease, and even death, for example:

• Listeria: This disease is a cause of food-borne infections that are escalating in Africa. This may lead to miscarriage in pregnant women or death in newborn babies.
• Salmonella and Campylobacter: Foods involved in these outbreaks include infected eggs, poultry, and other products of animal origin. They are also the principal cause of typhoid.
• Escherichia Coli: These bacteria cause intestinal infection with symptoms like fever, headache, nausea, and diarrhoea, amongst other afflictions, sometimes with severe and fatal outcomes.
• Echinococcus: These are harmful intestinal tapeworms that might infect people through unhygienic food-factory production procedures and undercooked or underprepared food products.

Importance of Cleanliness and Open Plant Cleaning

At Pescatech, our food-safety specialists know that keeping food preparation areas clean is an important step in preventing food poisoning. Among the many reasons for cleaning food-preparation surfaces and equipment that come into contact with your product might include, but are not exclusive to:

• Preventing pest, rodent, fly, cockroach, and other insect infestation
• Creating a clean, hygienic working environment
• Reducing the risk of cross-contamination from bacteria and allergens in separate work areas
• Reducing the risk of occupational injury hazards, such as tripping or slipping from food spillage
• Disinfection of the work area, keeping the surfaces free from harmful bacteria

Maximise Efficiency and Promote Productivity

While food safety is a shared responsibility from the source, through the production process and finally to the individual consumer, food handlers in the production stage play a huge role in preventing food-borne diseases by following open plant cleaning procedures. Keeping food preparation areas clean promotes productivity and provides a workspace where people enjoy working.

Using safe drinking water and raw materials along with following correct cooking procedures, cooking products thoroughly, keeping raw and cooked food separated, and keeping cooked food at safe temperatures not only promotes safe food consumption, but they also provide consumers with delicious treats, maximise efficiency, and minimise wastage.

Where to Find the Best Open Plant Cleaning Solutions

As leading open plant cleaning solution providers, we at Pescatech have travelled the world to learn from our globally acknowledged suppliers, who are themselves industry leaders in their fields. We have applied everything we have learned to the local food safety and related industries, providing South Africans with advanced products, cutting-edge technology, and the very best service. Contact us for the ultimate open plant cleaning solutions.

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