Simplifying Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing
Remember once upon a time, when the biggest villains in the kitchen and dining room were E. coli and norovirus? And those were the good old days from today’s perspective. Now that our roster of dangers has grown as quickly and dramatically as it has , cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing have become a central part of our foodservice operations, serving the dual purpose of safety and visual reassurance to those we serve. The distinction between cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing can be confusing, however, which can lead to safety gaps. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides the following clear and helpful explanation of the differences on cdc.gov: Cleaning removes germs , dirt, and impurities from surfaces or objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Sani...