The largest share of food consumed today is processed. The facilities where food is processed need to establish and maintain high cleanliness levels. It would be best if you considered the following when planning for a food production facility.
Ideal Location
An ideal location should not be far from the source of raw material to reduce transport costs. It should be easily accessible by emergency services such as fire and rescue vehicles. Also, areas highly prone to pests, infestation, and pollution should be avoided to reduce contamination risk.
Cleaning Station
Personal hygiene among the staff is vital for food safety, especially when handling, packaging, and transporting. Workers may bring germs and dirt when they enter the facility, which can easily contaminate food materials making the establishment unsafe for production. A good sanitation area should have washing points, lockers, and a room to put on work uniforms.
Floor Drainage
A dependable floor drainage system is essential for a food production facility. Reliable drainage ensures that no fluids remain on the floor and water is easily cleaned to maintain dryness. Dry floors improve facility safety, which protects employees and prevents workplace accidents.
Stable Floor
A proper floor should have a smooth coating with no crevices for bacteria to hide and spread. Also, its cleaning and maintenance should be easy. It should have strong resistance to corrosive chemicals used in cleaning. Acid brick floors are designed to withstand corrosive chemicals. They are installed with a sealed membrane to bond with the concrete. The bases can withstand extremely high temperatures.
Waste Management
A suitable system of managing waste is another thing you should consider. Improper handling of waste can damage the environment within the facility and outside of it. There should be enough containers for waste collection and storage areas. This limits the presence of pests, therefore, reducing contamination risk for food products and ingredients.
Safe and Clean Equipment
The design for the equipment in the production line should comply with food safety regulations. It should be convenient to allow easy cleaning and maintenance. When the machines hinder cleaning some areas, this may attract germs and pests, thus putting the food’s safety at risk. It would help if you also had stainless steel equipment that is resistant to bacteria.
Setting up a food processing plant requires good planning. When you implement these six things, you will help make the plant more orderly and ensure it meets the requirements of relevant agencies in food safety.
