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

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.

Trial

Trial Results

• 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