Cleaning and disinfecting for food businesses

Effective cleaning is essential to get rid of harmful bacteria and stop them spreading to food. If cleaning in food premises fails to meet acceptable standards, serious health problems can result. Cleaning and disinfecting must be carried out thoroughly - surfaces that appear to be visually clean have been found to have residues of germs that cannot be seen.

The proper cleaning of food premises can contribute significantly to controlling food safety hazards and risks associated with cross-contamination and inadequate cleaning. Cross-contamination is one of the most common risk factors reported in outbreaks of food poisoning.