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Bar and Cellar Case Study: How Swab Testing Kits can help

Improving hygiene in all bar and celler areas

The importance of hygiene

Stringent hygiene procedures in the brewing industry are key to the maintenance of end product quality. Failure to maintain hygiene standards can seriously impact on the final product quality, consistency and freshness.

However, these measures are often not reflected at the point

of sale. It is here that the product first reaches the customer. The licensee does not have the same resources as the brewery lab and in most cases has to rely on brewery recommended procedures, or visits from technical services, to help maintain product quality to the required standard.

How can hygiene be improved?

The advent of rapid, non instrument based hygiene tests, provide an opportunity for the licensee to measure hygiene effectiveness first hand on a day to day basis. The Clean-Trace™ hygiene device is a self contained hygiene measurement test that will enable a quick assessment of cleanliness in the Bar

or Cellar. Designed to monitor cleaning effectiveness, Clean-Trace™ will quickly show if an area has been cleaned properly or requires further attention before use. This reduces the risk of product contamination.

Trial

A trial of bar and cellar hygiene was carried out using the Clean-Trace™ hygiene test. Nine managed houses were visited and a selection of sampling areas that would impact on point of sale products were tested. For the purpose of the trial the following

12 areas were used. These included direct and indirect product contact areas that had been cleaned by routine methods and would provide a measurement of current cleaning procedure effectiveness.

Sample Areas:

Trial Results

ICE MAKER FINS
ICE MAKER BACK LEDGE
ICE MAKER DOOR
ICE MAKER DOOR RUBBER
DISPENSE TAP
NOZZLE/SPARKELERS

DISPENSE COUPLING HEAD
SWAN NECK SPOUT
GLASS
GLASS WASHING BASKET
GLASS WASHER DOOR
GLASS WASHER WALL

23% of those areas tested (105 sample points in all) were shown to have significant levels of contamination, producing a purple or dark purple colour result.
21% showed low levels of contamination a grey or caution result.
57% were clean, a green colour result.

Which areas were shown to be high risk?

The main areas of concern in terms of significant contamination were:

1. Tap nozzles and sparkers.

2. Swan neck font dispense taps.

3. Ice making equipment - a high risk to product and potentially to the consumer if not appropriately maintained.

4. Glass washing equipment - could result in cross contamination of the glassware itself although in this trial glass results were

found to be generally acceptable.

5. Keg coupling dispense heads - a high level of caution results indicating low levels of contamination after cleaning.

What does the trial demonstrate?

There are significant levels of contamination in many direct product contact points even after normal cleaning…

1. Poor bar and cellar hygiene at the point of sale can be identified by Clean-Trace™

2. A rapid hygiene test is a useful way to identify areas that need improved cleaning performance in a traditionally neglected area.

3. Pro-tect® offers;

A way to control and improve hygiene standards in the bar and cellar environment.
A simple to use and interpret test requiring no instrument or specialist skills.
A test that can be uttilised by technical services or the licensee themselves.

APPENDIX 1 – Results of Clean-Trace™ bar and cellar trial

Sample Area

Ice maker fins

Ice maker back ledge

Ice maker door

Ice maker door rubber

Dispense tap

Nozzle/ sparklers Nil

Dispense coupling head

Swan neck spout

Glass

Glass wash basket

Glass washer door

Glass washer wall

TOTAL

PERCENTAGE

Green

2x 25%

4x 50%

2x 29%

4x 44%

Nil

4x 57%

2x 29%

15x 94%

8x 89%

6x 67%

9x 100%

60x

57%

Grey

1x 13%

Nil

4x 50%

3x 43%

5x 56%

1x 13%

3x 43%

1x 6%

Nil

1x 11%

Nil

22x

21%

Purple

2x 25%

3x 38%

Nil

2x 25%

Nil

1x 14%

Nil

1x 11%

2x 22%

Nil

11x

10%

Dark Purple

3x 38%

1x 13%

Nil

2x 29%

Nil

5x 63%

Nil

1x 14%

Nil

12x

11%

Total

8x

7x

9x

8x

7x

16x

9x

105x

100%