Sanitizing

Sanitizing

• A. Reducing the number of pathogens to safe levels
• B. Disinfecting surfaces
• C. Cleaning with soap
• D. Polishing surfaces

Answer: (A)

Sanitizing is the process of reducing the number of pathogens to safe levels as defined by health codes. After cleaning, a sanitizer is applied to bring microbial counts down so surfaces are safe for contact with food and people. It’s not the same as disinfection, which aims to kill most or all pathogens on a surface, nor is it cleaning with soap, which mainly removes dirt and some germs but may not meet safe-count thresholds. Polishing is cosmetic and does not address microbial safety. So reducing to safe levels best captures what sanitizing means.

Sanitizing is the process of reducing the number of pathogens to safe levels as defined by health codes. After cleaning, a sanitizer is applied to bring microbial counts down so surfaces are safe for contact with food and people. It’s not the same as disinfection, which aims to kill most or all pathogens on a surface, nor is it cleaning with soap, which mainly removes dirt and some germs but may not meet safe-count thresholds. Polishing is cosmetic and does not address microbial safety. So reducing to safe levels best captures what sanitizing means.