The Reputation Drain: Listeria in Drains Threatens a Store’s Image When Uncontrolled

Traditional drain cleaning practices can facilitate the spread of Listeria through the creation of potentially harmful airborne droplets. Traditional cleaning practices involve scrubbing drains with brushes or pads, which can spray droplets from inside the drain into the store environment. These aerosols, which may contain Listeria, can deposit themselves on food-contact surfaces and eventually on food.

Traditional drain cleaning practices also have the added drawback of being labor intensive: They require extensive training and all are generally unpleasant jobs. This can lead to retail staff or cleaners overlooking the task. Putting off or avoiding the cleaning of drains in a food retail setting only increases the chances of dirt buildup and creates an ideal breeding ground for Listeria.

Listeria-Controlling Strategies

Because Listeria causes serious illness and grows in difficult-to-clean and hidden areas, controlling the organism can be a daunting task. By using a drain-cleaning program and incorporating new cleaning technology, however, there are easier ways to control this organism in retail establishments.

Identification: The first step in eliminating and controlling Listeria is to identify it. Keep swab testing kits on hand to regularly check drains, countertops and other surfaces for Listeria. Retailers should take individual swabs of floor and sink drains as well as countertops. The send test swabs to an independent laboratory for analysis. Usually labs will send back a confidential report detailing the results within a few weeks.

Elimination: Regardless of whether or not Listeria is found, the organic soil and bacteria need to be eliminated from drains to control the organism. This is a two-step process that involves cleaning, followed by sanitizing or disinfecting. Listeria will not be eliminated if the drains are not first thoroughly cleaned because sanitizers do not remove organic soils, and soil interferes with the antimicrobial action of sanitizers and disinfectants.

New cleaning products such as foaming drain cleaners are the best, most effective type of drain cleaners because they cling to vertical surfaces and can separate soil and bacteria from the sides of the drain. These soils can then be flushed down the drain without leaving behind remaining traces.

When using a foaming cleaner, connect the product to a water source and spray into drains, where the cleaner latched onto soil particles and breaks them up. This eliminates the need to disassemble the drain, which helps prevent Listeria droplets from being released into the air through scrubbing and greatly simplifies the cleaning process. After about a minute, the drain is flushed thoroughly with water. Use a sanitizer or disinfectant once the drain is clean.

Additional brushes and pads are not required. Using a foaming cleanser with a sprayer is a no-touch cleaning process, which can greatly reduce the risk of direct employee contact with the chemical concentrate and the organic material. Any cleaner used should not be harmful to the soft metals used to make drains, such as brass, cast iron or aluminum.

Control: After the drain has been cleaned and sanitized, the final step in keeping Listeria out of store drains is to maintain the cleanliness of the area by following proper food preparation practices and diligent cleaning on a regular basis. Cleaning staff, as well as other store personnel, must be properly trained on how to clean drains as well as food-contact surfaces. Wall charts and easy-to-read instructions with icons and images can help personnel easily understand cleaning and hygiene practices.

Finally, store managers can design auditing surveys to track the cleaning practices required to make sure each area of concern is properly attended on a regular basis.

Protect Food, People and Reputation

Incorporating new developments in cleaning technology that improve the safety and cleanliness of stores will help food retailers reduce the risk of spreading Listeria and other food-borne pathogens. These developments make it easy to train new workers quickly on the proper procedures because products are easier and safer to use. A cleaner, safer store can provide a better customer experience while enhancing the store’s reputation and protecting its brand.