Making food safe to consume
The customer has the legal right to expect
food to be safe to consume, but who owns
the responsibility for achieving this?
Currently, so far as food manufacturing
is concerned, it lies with both the
manufacturer of the systems or machinery
involved and the food manufacturing
company.
The machinery manufacturing company
has the responsibility for avoiding
all potential areas of food/drink
contamination within the system. This
includes minimising potential ‘traps’
where food can become lodged and
become difficult to remove during cleaning.
Typically, these might include poorly
welded and unfinished joints, sharp
Smooth surfaces and easy access to all Finned motors can therefore act as a
fastenings with open heads. areas are essential requirements. Also, the breeding ground for germs, becoming
ability to clean machinery components ‘in a potential product contamination risk.
There is also the selection of the materials place’ has become increasingly important, Numerous catchment areas include fins,
both to facilitate cleaning and to avoid nameplates and angular terminal boxes
possible contamination ingress. that can serve as prime bug-breeding
angular bends in metal and unsuitable
employed for machinery construction to
be considered. To ensure the appropriate
materials are employed, the food
manufacturer must provide comprehensive
details of all ingredients involved and the
cleaning materials/chemicals that will be
used. Most of the guidance insists that
stainless steel should be used wherever
zones. Furthermore, they are difficult
Yet there seems to be a common and troublesome to clean and certainly
anachronism amongst these hygiene cannot effectively be ‘cleaned in place’,
sensitive installations – finned, painted hence the dubious practice of “bagging”
electric motors being employed to drive motors being employed.
machinery. When their use is questioned
possible. the response is often: ‘not in direct contact These hygiene issues are eliminated
with food’. Whilst this may be true, cleaning by adopting Lafert’s ‘Marlin’ range of
Cleaning must also be taken into operations, such as pressure washing of smooth bodied, stainless steel motors
floors and areas of machinery will atomise and gearboxes. Designed specifically for
germs that can collect on the motors. the food, pharmaceutical and chemical
consideration by the machinery
manufacturer.
industries, they offer easy-to-clean
characteristics and extended reliability.
Rated IP69K/66, they can be cleaned
using high-pressure hoses and have
reduced material-catchment areas
to harbour germs – motor details are
etched onto the body which has an
integrated smooth terminal box.
IP66 rated inverters can also be supplied
to complete the washdown-tolerant
package.
www.marlinstainless.com
20 FDPP - www.fdpp.co.uk