Page 18 - CIJ May 2025- Digital Edition

COVER STORY

1. What is the most critical
compliance requirement in food
processing facilities?
Cleanliness and hygiene of a food
processing facility is paramount.
And facility managers are most
concerned about pest control and
hygiene, making it the most critical
compliance requirement, as was
voted by 87% of the respondents.
This was followed by FSSAI
sanitation norms. Temperature/
humidity control and effluent
treatment were less prioritised.
With the increase in food
consumption and processed foods,
FM has an extremely vital role to
play in ensuring sanitation protocols
are met. Experts say regulatory
guidelines are already in place for
FSSAI, HACCP and food safety
management. However, how to meet
those standards through improved
and scientific cleaning methods
is a learning process for most FM
professionals. They need to go beyond
the basic understanding of hygiene.

2. What is the top operational
priority for facility managers in
food facilities?
The hygiene and sanitation of
the food facility, including that of
the workers, machinery and the
surrounding area, is the top priority
of the facility managers. In the poll,
100% of the respondents voted for
hygiene and sanitation. Temperature
control and regulatory compliance
followed.
In food facilities, “Hygiene and
sanitation” is a broad term. “It
involves quality of drinking water,
contamination in raw materials,
cleanliness of floors, walls, ceilings,
doors, windows, kitchen tools, waste
handling, light fittings, refrigeration,
etc. Hence, operationally, this remains
a big challenge,” said a quality
assurance manager of a food company.

18 MAY 2025•Clean India Journal•www.cleanindiajournal.com