Cost %
Labor 50.0
Water/sewage 18.0
Energy 7.5
Cleaning compounds and 6.0
sanitizers
Corrosion damage 1.5
Miscellaneous 17.0The largest cost of cleaning is labor.
Approximately 50% of the sanitation dollar
is spent for cleaning, sanitizing, and quality
assurance personnel and supervision. This
expense, however, can be reduced more than
other costs, through the use of mechanized
cleaning systems.
Water and sewagehave the next highest
costs. Food plants use large quantities of
water for the application of cleaning com-
pounds. In addition, this category encom-
passes sewage discharge costs and surcharges.
Energy requirements and sewage treatment
costs are major because sewage from food
plants can be high in biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand
(COD). (See Chapter 12 for more about waste
treatment.)
The cost and availability ofenergyfor gen-
erating hot water and steam are important
factors. Most cleaning systems, cleaning com-
pounds, and sanitizers are effective when the
water temperature is below 55ºC. A lower
temperature will conserve energy, reduce pro-
tein denaturation on surfaces to be cleaned
(thus increasing ease of soil removal), and
decrease injury to employees.
Althoughcleaning compoundsandsanitiz-
ersare expensive, this cost is reasonable if one
considers that sanitizers destroy residual
microorganisms, and that these compounds
contribute more thorough cleaning with less
labor. The optimal cleaning system combines
the most effective cleaning compounds, sani-
tizers, and equipment to perform the cleaning
tasks economically and effectively. Chemical
costs may be reduced by the use of the cor-
rect amount of cleaning solution to perform
tasks.
Improper use of cleaning compounds and
sanitizers on processing equipment con-
structed of stainless steel, galvanized metal,
and aluminum, costs the industry millions of
dollars through corrosiondamage. This cost
can be reduced through use of appropriate
construction materials and the proper clean-
ing system, including noncorroding cleaning
compounds and sanitizers.
An accumulation of miscellaneous sanita-
tion costs includes the cost of water and
sewage treatment. Miscellaneous costs encom-
pass equipment depreciation, returned goods,
general and administrative expenses, and
other operating costs. The general nature of
these costs makes it more difficult to identify a
specific approach for their reduction. The
most effective course is careful management.Equipment selection
Identification of the most appropriate
equipment for the application of cleaning
compounds and sanitizers is as important as
selecting the chemicals themselves (Anon.,
2003). At least three sources are available to
the industry to provide information related
to the optimal sanitation system: a planning
division (or similar group) of the food com-
pany, a consulting organization (internal or
external), and/or a supplier of cleaning and
sanitizing compounds and equipment.
Regardless of which source is used, a basic
plan should be followed to guide the selec-
tion and installation of equipment. An
important factor in sanitation equipment
selection is the degree of equipment disas-
sembly, which is critical to environmental
pathogen control. Other critical factors
include the effectiveness of sanitizer applica-
tion, prevention of cross-contamination,Sanitation Equipment 191