ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Cleaning and decontamination efficacy of wiping cloths and silver dihydrogen citrate on food contact surfaces

  1. S.M. Masuku1,
  2. D. Babu1,
  3. E.M. Martin1,2,
  4. O.K. Koo1,
  5. C.A. O’Bryan1,
  6. P.G. Crandall1,
  7. S.C. Ricke1

Article first published online: 10 MAY 2012

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05318.x

Issue

Journal of Applied Microbiology

Journal of Applied Microbiology

Volume 113, Issue 1, pages 89–95, July 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Masuku, S.M., Babu, D., Martin, E.M., Koo, O.K., O’Bryan, C.A., Crandall, P.G. and Ricke, S.C. (2012), Cleaning and decontamination efficacy of wiping cloths and silver dihydrogen citrate on food contact surfaces. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 113: 89–95. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2012.05318.x

Author Information

  1. 1

     Center for Food Safety and Department of Food Science, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA

  2. 2

     Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA

*Dinesh Babu, Food Science Department, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA. E-mail: dbabu@uark.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 13 JUN 2012
  2. Article first published online: 10 MAY 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 21 APR 2012 09:10AM EST
  4. 2012/0403: received 2 March 2012, revised 30 March 2012 and accepted 13 April 2012

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Keywords:

  • disinfection;
  • environmental health;
  • food safety;
  • microbial contamination

Abstract

Aims:  To test the efficacy of four wipe cloth types (cotton bar towel, nonwoven, microfibre and blended cellulose/cotton) with either quaternary ammonia cleaning solution or silver dihydrogen citrate (SDC) in cleaning food contact surfaces.

Methods:  Swab samples collected from untreated, cloth-treated and cloth disinfectant-treated surfaces were subjected to hygiene monitoring using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence and aerobic total plate counting (TPC) assays.

Results:  Adenosine triphosphate measurements taken after wiping the surfaces showed poor cleaning by nonwoven cloths (2·89 RLU 100 cm−2) than the microfibre (2·30 RLU 100 cm−2), cotton terry bar (2·26 RLU 100 cm−2) and blended cellulose/cotton cloth types (2·20 RLU 100 cm−2). The cellulose/cotton cloth showed highest log reduction in ATP-B RLU values (95%) and CFU values (98·03%) when used in combination with SDC disinfectant.

Conclusions:  Cleaning effect of wiping cloths on food contact surfaces can be enhanced by dipping them in SDC disinfectant. ATP-B measurements can be used for real-time hygiene monitoring in public sector, and testing microbial contamination provides more reliable measure of cleanliness.

Significance and Impact of the Study:  Contaminated food contact surfaces need regular hygiene monitoring. This study could help to estimate and establish contamination thresholds for surfaces at public sector facilities and to base the effectiveness of cleaning methods.

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