SanitationCheck™ Facilitates Cost Reductions for Food Processing Facilities

Spartan Chemical Company, Inc., a recognized leader in the formulation and manufacture of sustainable cleaning and sanitation solutions for the industrial and institutional market, announced today the availablity of SanitationCheck, a new managed sanitation program for food processing facilities.

The emergence of foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, E. coli 0157:H7, and Campylobacter have grabbed national media attention and awareness. In today's world, it has become critically important to have an effective sanitation program as part of a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) plan. A successful HACCP plan will include seven basic principles: hazard analysis, CCP (Critical Control Point) identification, establishing critical limits, monitoring procedures, corrective actions, verification procedures, and record-keeping and documentation.

"All sanitation programs have the ultimate goal of reducing and or eliminating all harmful contaminants," says Chris Celusta, manager - food processing for Spartan Chemical. "Having an effective sanitation program not only ensures public safety but can help reduce costs by reducing spoilage and waste, avoiding recalls, decreasing labor hours associated with cleaning, and lowering legal exposure ."

It is scientifically proven that rigorous and regular cleaning, as part of a HACCP plan, is associated with major decreases in foodborne pathogens. In order for an effective chemical sanitizer to work properly, the surface must be thoroughly cleaned prior to the application of the sanitizer. Training of sanitation staff on how to clean more thoroughly is paramount to the success of the program.

"The need for cleaning, sanitizing, and record-keeping is well documented in the food processing industry," explains Celusta. "Training of the sanitation staff is critical in order to maintain an effective program. Our approach is to train the staff with interactive education and validation tools that serve as on-going procedural and verification components in the HACCP program. The output of this training can be used to establish CCP limits and identify the need for corrective actions."

SanitationCheck uses a three-pronged approach to ensure proper cleaning and sanitation is achieved - TRAINING, VALIDATION, and DOCUMENTATION. The CleanCheck® Program trains, tests, and certifies staff on HAZCOM, GHS, and OSHA Blood Borne Pathogen standards. Handy, portable Food Processing Training cards reinforce the training program and provide a framework for adherence to the standard going forward. This process is supported by ATP validation tools. ATP swabs and meter allow sanitation managers to objectively train and assess staff cleaning operations while minimizing risk of transfer of harmful pathogens. The data can then be loaded into CompuClean® CMMS (Custodial Maintenance Management Software) which allows sanitation managers to document and monitor established CCP limits and verify program progress. In combination with Spartan's wide range of cleaning and sanitizing chemicals, the system provides an end-to-end solution for HACCP plans.

SanitationCheck is offered exclusively through Spartan's select distributors. To find a distributor near you and start a SanitationCheck program in your facility, visit www.spartanchemical.com.

About Spartan Chemical Company
Spartan Chemical Company has been a recognized leader in the formulation and manufacture of sustainable cleaning and sanitation solutions for the industrial and institutional market since 1956. A proud US employer, Spartan manufactures high quality products from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Maumee, OH and sells both domestically and internationally through a selective network of distribution. Spartan's chemical products and services are used in building service contractor, education, health care, food service and processing, lodging/hospitality, and industrial markets.