Principles of Food Sanitation

Combination Centralized High-Pressure,
Low-Volume, and Foam Cleaning
This system is the same as centralized high-
pressure except that foam can also be applied
through the equipment. This method offers
the most flexibility because foam can be used
on large surface areas, and high pressure
can be applied to belts, conveyors, and hard-
to-reach areas in a meat or poultry plant.
Equipment costs for this system range from
$15,000 to over $150,000, depending on size.

Cleaning-in-Place (CIP)

With this closed system, a recirculating
cleaning solution is applied by installed
nozzles, which automatically clean, rinse,
and sanitize equipment. Benefits of CIP sys-
tems are discussed in Chapter 11. The use of
CIP systems in the meat and poultry indus-
try is limited. This equipment is expensive
and lacks effectiveness in heavily soiled
areas. CIP cleaning has some application in
vacuum thawing chambers, pumping and
brine circulation lines, preblend/batch silos,
and edible and inedible fat rendering. Figure
17–5 illustrates a CIP application principle
for washing shackles, rollers, and chains in
poultry plants. The motor and drive compo-
nents are mounted on a base plate. As the

shackles pass between two rotating brushes,

they are cleaned. The brushes can be lifted

above the rail when not in use.

Cleaning-out-of-Place (COP)

Although some specialized applications

of this cleaning technique exist in the meat

and poultry industry, the use of this equip-

ment is somewhat limited. More detailed

information on this topic is presented in

Chapter 11. In addition to parts washing

equipment, COP units are being incorpo-

rated in the cleaning of racks and returnable

containers. Typical equipment consists of a

cabinet with oscillating spray bars to reach

all areas to be cleaned with high-pressure

volume. A complete wash and rinse cycle

ranges from 5 to 20 minutes per batch,

depending upon the level of soil built-up on

what is being cleaned. This equipment saves

water and chemical costs by recycling.

Cleaning compounds for meat and poultry plants

Acid Cleaners

Information about strong and mild acid

cleaners is provided in Chapter 7.

Strongly Alkaline Cleaners

Examples of strongly alkaline compounds

are sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and

silicates having high N 2 O:SiO 2 ratios. The

addition of silicates tends to reduce the cor-

rosiveness and improves the penetration and

rinsing properties of sodium hydroxide.

These cleaners are used to remove heavy

soils, such as those found in smokehouses.

Heavy-Duty Alkaline Cleaners

The active ingredients of these cleaners

may be sodium metasilicate, sodium hexa-

metaphosphate, sodium pyrophosphate, and

308 PRINCIPLES OFFOODSANITATION

Figure 17–5Shackle washer for cleaning shackles,
rollers, and the chain in poultry processing plants.
Courtesy of Ecolab Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota.