Food safety protocols are perhaps some of the most stringent safety regulations among broader business requirements. Making sure what we eat is safe has kept our country healthier than most, from very early on and kept profitable production lines going. Now Foodservice is faced with an intense new combatant in Covid-19, keeping the industry closed in many areas and in need of help everywhere.

As re-opening or loosening guidelines and precautions starts to spread, Restaurants and Bars will begin to test the cleaning and disinfecting solutions put in place. Among those concerns should be,  “What is in those cleaning products” and at the top (and what is concerning) are “quats”.  Quaternary Ammonium Compounds, basically a line list of harmful chemicals that usually end in “onium chloride” that do a great job on Covid-19, and have their own list of other possible affects they leave behind with their residue.

• Potent skin irritants and can cause rashes and dermatitis.
• Cleaning workers exposed regularly to “quats” have developed occupational asthma.
• Reproductive harm, potentially affecting fertility, and possibly leading to birth defects.
• Widespread use of quats is contributing to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance, leading to the development of “superbugs” that cannot be controlled with antibiotics.

These types of disinfectants don’t really feel like they fit the bill for our essential Foodservice Workers or  their customers. Yet this is what is produced from most of your “big brands” and made available to distributors and resellers. “Quats” tend to keep prices low and are complete with warnings and directions that according to a recent CDC survey, regarding household cleaning practices, a THIRD of responders don’t adhere to. Now we know Foodservice teams are FAR more efficient than any of us at home, but the idea that these guidelines are obviously under-communicated is alarming.

Finding the right choice may be a bit more difficult, but it will be well worth it to your family at work and the families who visit. Products utilizing citric acid, lactic acid,  hydrogen peroxide, or thymol are safer options but should still be used properly according to instructions and warning.

They have the proper, EPA N-Listed, Covid-19 killing power but just like “quats” are subject to efficacy times. Surfaces must be left WET for the stated time frame in order to actually disinfect and even sanitize. This tends to be anywhere from 2-10 minutes, depending on how powerful the ingredients are most times.

Let’s make the right choices not only for our food-contact surfaces, but the entire environment, and offer a safer home to our family and restaurant goers alike.

Want more information on disinfecting in Hospitality & Foodservice? Check out our related article “Are you using the right cleaning products in your Hotel or Resort Lobby?”

Source:

Chemical & Engineering News – Do we know enough about the safety of “quat” disinfectants?

Women’s Voice For Earth – Cleaning with Pesticides? Quit the Quats!

CDC – Knowledge and Practices Regarding Safe Household Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 Prevention — United States, May 2020

UMass Lowell – Disinfectants Can Kill the Coronavirus, but Can Also Harm Health

It’s game time, the last year or so has been a real challenge, but your property is open and you are ready to welcome guests back for an enjoyable experience! The team has been prepped, new protocols and processes are in place, and PPE is at-the-ready for your valued patrons…but is it safe?

As we all move to make our best effort in a grand industry re-opening this year, we have found that the focus on “clean” has perhaps overbore an existing industry standard of “safety”. As teams look to stock disinfecting products for general areas, and inventory issues continue, we have to be cautious of what we offer our customers to clean their hands and what we use to clean public use surfaces.

A recent CDC survey on household cleaning practices, found that a THIRD of respondents used disinfectants in a risky manor

Some may be familiar with the term “quats”, this refers to cleaners using Quaternary Ammonium Compounds for disinfecting in many EPA N-List registered products. You might see something like, benzalkonium chlorides and didecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride, on the label but there are quite a few variations. Look for “onium chloride” based chemical names in questionable products and the tell tale usage warnings that go along with it.

Because this residue can linger on the surface and often public spaces are used right after being “cleaned”, this offers a hazard especially to young children who may populate the area. Washing your hands after using a Clorox wipe is advised via their label, but how many are actually doing it?

A study at UMass Lowell talks about possible issues caused by “quats”, it is not a fun read:

• Potent skin irritants and can cause rashes and dermatitis.
• “Quats” can irritate your lungs leading to breathing problems.
• Cleaning workers exposed regularly to “quats” have developed occupational asthma.
• Reproductive harm, potentially affecting fertility, and possibly leading to birth defects.
• Widespread use of quats is contributing to the global problem of antimicrobial resistance, leading to the development of “superbugs” that cannot be controlled with antibiotics.
• Use of potent antibacterial cleaners in the home has never actually been proven to reduce colds or flu in the people that live there.

So the next question is, why are we still using them and what are the other options, right?

Well these chemical formulas are economically friendlier than the other options, that yes do exist, but we don’t think that really completes the “value” evaluation every product should get that is used in a property. Once combined with the environmental impact and health issues, these products assume more risk that we would ever recommend.

Look for EPA N-Listed products and brands that have decided to step up to the challenge and offer, still effective, safer cleaning solutions for your new environment. Citric Acid-Based, Hyrdogen Peroxide, lactic acid, or thymol cleaners are safer options, and when used properly, as with “quats”, are effective against Covid-19.

Remember that spraying or wiping a surface and drying it immediately does not give proper time for Covid-19 killing efficacy. The less time a product needs on the surface the more harmful chemicals are likely used in it, and it should be used only in the proper areas and instances. Surfaces must stay WET for the duration of required efficacy time in order to FULLY disinfect.

However, no matter which disinfectant you use, always adhere to warnings and directions on the label as well as keeping them clear of children as a general rule.

Source:

Chemical & Engineering News – Do we know enough about the safety of “quat” disinfectants?

Women’s Voice For Earth – Cleaning with Pesticides? Quit the Quats!

CDC – Knowledge and Practices Regarding Safe Household Cleaning and Disinfection for COVID-19 Prevention — United States, May 2020

UMass Lowell – Disinfectants Can Kill the Coronavirus, but Can Also Harm Health