Final answer:
Cleaning and sanitation in the food industry involve processes to safely reduce microbial loads on surfaces and equipment and prevent foodborne diseases. Sanitation methods, such as high-temperature dishwashing and chemical disinfection, are critical for public health. Different standards of cleanliness are applied based on the intended use of items in food service and production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cleaning and sanitation in the food industry are processes designed to ensure that food products are safe for consumption. The use of high temperatures in commercial dishwashers and chemical disinfectants on surfaces are examples of methods used to sanitize equipment and areas in food service and production. Regular handwashing, proper rotation and inspection of food items, and achieving sufficient internal cooking temperatures are vital personal and process hygiene practices to prevent foodborne diseases.
Sanitization is a specific process that reduces microbial presence to safe levels. Cleaning, on the other hand, involves removing physical debris and reducing microbial loads but does not necessarily achieve the same level of microbe reduction as sanitation. The effectiveness of cleaning methods depends on the intended use of the item, with different standards required for different scenarios, such as eating utensils versus surgical equipment.
Addition of contaminants during the food production process, such as mechanical contamination from equipment, is a significant risk factor. The food industry must carefully balance the need for thorough sanitization with the practicality and safety issues of sterilization, which can be overly harsh and impractical for certain applications.