Chapter 14 Sanitary Design and Construction for Food Processing
New and renovated food processing and
foodservice facilities should be planned to
enhance a hygienic operation and effective
cleaning. Because most equipment and facil-
ities are designed to feature functionality,
hygienic design and construction principles
should be emphasized to ensure a sanitary
operation. A hygienically designed facility
can enhance the wholesomeness of all foods
and improve the effectiveness and efficiency
of a sanitation program.
Site selection..........................................................................................
Site selection plays an important role in
the development of a hygienic operation.
Food facilities should not be constructed
near chemical plants that emit noxious
odors, or near salvage or water disposal
operations. Food products that are rela-
tively high in fat will readily pick up bad
odors and flavors, and pathogenic microor-
ganisms can be picked up by the wind and
blown on the manufactured products unless
special filters are added to the intake air
systems. Drainage is important, as sites
located close to standing water with poor
drainage are more likely to have Listeria
monocytogenesin the facility and on manu-
factured products. Large bodies of water
will attract scavenger birds that carry Sal-
monella. Standing water provides a breed-
ing environment conducive to insects and
provides water to sustain the lives of rodents
and other pests. A food-manufacturing
facility should not be located near existing
pest harborages for further protection
against pathogenic microorganisms.
Troller (1993) suggested that the location
of a food plant near small streams and
drainage ditches should be avoided, as
should locations near refuse dumps, land-
fills, and equipment storage yards. Land
reclaimed from swampy ground or disposal
areas for refuse should not receive serious
consideration.
The selected site should permit future
expansion. Overcrowded facilities are ineffi-
cient and pose a sanitation-related liability.
Water availability and adequate waste dis-
posal facilities should be considered. Trees
and foliage that provide food and/or harbor-
age for birds should not be planted close to
the buildings, and existing growth should be
removed. Parking lots should be paved to
prevent dust and should be well drained to
facilitate prompt removal of rainwater.
A perimeter chain-link type fence that sur-
rounds the property should be considered.