Alternative Solutions to Cleaning – Bringing Enzymatic Other Cutting-edge Technologies to the Retail and Food Service World

Monday, August 1, 2016: 3:30 PM
220-221 (America's Center - St. Louis)
Thomas Ford, Ecolab, Inc., Greensboro, NC
2016 IAFP PDG Session Proposal

Title:  Alternative Solutions to Cleaning- Bringing Enzymatic other Cutting Edge Technologies to the Retail and Food Service World  

Session type: Symposium

Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes has proven to be present and persistent in the retail environment. The challenges in addressing the issue have proven that a multifaceted approach must be taken to address and have a meaningful impact on Listeria’s ability to inhabit a retail environment. An approach that takes into account the unique features and  characteristics of the bacteria, the unique operational and facility design of the retail store and an evolving and targeted  combination of technology and procedures of a cleaning a sanitation program all must be a component of a successful Listeria management plan.    

This session will involve three speakers that will present the latest scientific data about the scope and depth of the prevalence of Listeria at retail, the unique operational and facility challenges a retail environment presents and strategies that have proven successful in addressing the Lm issue. Additionally, a presentation of analytical data and learnings from an extensive field analysis conducted in 2015 of over 100 retail stores will be shared. The study showed remarkable success in identifying Lm locations, removing Lm from floors and drains using specific tools and technologies and provided new insights about facility design and material substrates that can either complicate or enhance a food operator’s success in managing Listeria in an environment. 

Speakers and topics:

The Microbiological Challenge for Retail and Food Service- Haley Oliver, Assistant Professor, Ph.D., Purdue University will present research studies that lay out the latest challenges Listeria presents specifically to the Retail environment.  

The Retail Challenge – Larry Kohl, Director of Food Safety, Delhaize North America will discuss the specific challenge retailer’s face when combating Listeria in a retail store setting. Addressing issues of Labor, sanitation procedures and products, facility design, and the challenge of bringing science and technology geared to address Lm into a shopping environment.

Applying New Technologies and Cleaning Program Validation - Anna Starobin MD and senior scientist, Ecolab will share research results she has conducted from retail evaluations including which floor substrates are more likely to harbor Lm, whether cleaning tools truly are a source of recontamination.  Results and analysis of a recent field analysis from hundreds of store site locations will be shared.