The Role of Sanitary Process Equipment in the Food & Beverage Industry

In the food and beverage industry, public health and safety are at high stakes – so reliance on sanitary processing equipment is non-negotiable. This industry is one of the most heavily regulated sectors globally due to the direct impact that food safety and quality have on consumers’ health. 

In this article, we’ll review the types of sanitary processing equipment used in the industry, standards that must be met, FDA regulations and compliance, and much more.

Types of Food and Beverage Industry Equipment

There are three main types of sanitary processing equipment used in the food and beverage industry: 

1. Pasteurizers
2. Homogenizers
3. Tanks
   
   

1. Pasteurizers

Pasteurizers are typically used in the food and beverage industry to destroy harmful microorganisms in products such as milk, juice, beer, and other beverages. 

They operate by heating the product to a specific temperature for a set period, effectively reducing bacterial content without altering the taste or nutritional value.

2. Homogenizers

Homogenizers are frequently used to improve the consistency and stability of food and beverage products by breaking down fat molecules in milk or integrating ingredients to create a uniform mixture. 

This process is often used to prevent separation in dairy products, enhance the texture of sauces and creams, and improve consistency to meet consumer expectations.

3. Tanks

Tanks play multiple roles in the food and beverage industry – storage, fermentation, and processing. Storage tanks keep ingredients or finished products under controlled conditions, while fermentation tanks are used in the production of beer, wine, and other fermented goods.

Importance of Food and Beverage Industry Regulations and Compliance

As mentioned above, the food and beverage industry is highly regulated. These regulations and compliance are important for several reasons, but most importantly to: 

• Ensure product safety – To prevent foodborne illnesses by minimizing the risk of contamination. 
• Enhance product reliability – Maintain quality through the consistent application of processes. 
• Meet FDA and international standards – Use specific materials and designs to prevent contamination, helping manufacturers adhere to the necessary sanitary conditions.
  
  

Sanitary Processing Equipment Standards

Sanitary processing equipment must offer three key features:

• Material compatibility: To ensure your ingredients are protected
• Easy-to-clean designs: To thoroughly clean and sanitize your equipment between batches
• Minimal contamination risk: To allow multiple processes to occur within one facility. 

Typically, the food and beverage industry relies heavily on stainless steel, typically highly polished, to ensure these standards are met.

Stainless steel mixers and tanks are used due to the steel’s smooth surface, strong withstanding to industrial conditions, neutrality, and easy-to-clean and disinfecting nature. In the dairy industry specifically, stainless steel is used primarily due to its ability to be non-reactive to the lactic acids that form during the milk fermentation process.

Cleaning and Sterilization of Sanitary Processing Equipment

To maintain sterile equipment, proper cleaning steps need to be performed. The two processes slightly differ between sanitary stainless steel tanks and sanitary mixers.

Sanitary Stainless Steel Tanks

For breweries using stainless steel tanks, they often use a combination of three cleaning agents to ensure sanitary conditions. 

• Caustic (Sodium Hydroxide) – This alkaline agent cleans and removes organics from the tank and mixer surfaces but if left on too long it can cause damage.
• Muriatic and Phosphoric acid – This combination prevents damage, removes calcium, and neutralizes any after-effects of using the Caustic solution. 
• Nitric acid – This is used to clean the sanitary processing equipment and improve the sanitary surface finish. 

In the dairy industry, cleaning and sterilizing requires the eradication of all contamination that may stick to the surface of the stainless steel. To do this effectively, the surfaces must go through an in-depth cleaning and disinfectant process. The tanks can be no higher than a typical person’s hand's reach, ensuring that all surfaces can be cleaned and reached. Additionally, some tanks come with sanitizing spray nozzles but typically, the interior needs to be hand-cleaned.

Sanitary Mixers

Some stainless steel items in the food industry cannot be cleaned in the same manner as tanks or removable parts. For example, all of the removable parts on mixers and slicers must be removed and sanitized. The remaining (fixed) parts need to be cleaned with hot water and a detergent and then rinsed, air-dried, and covered/sprayed with a sterile solution. 

For added protection, mixing shafts and impellers can be welded and polished to eliminate pits and pockets where bacteria can grow, or can be coated with a non-stick coating (like Teflon) to assist in the cleaning process.

Ensuring Sanitary Requirements Are Met

The food and beverage industry depends on sanitary processing equipment to operate. Without it, manufacturers wouldn’t be able to keep up with the in-depth regulations and compliance needed. 

If you’re in the food and beverage industry and looking for ways to improve your sanitary process equipment or sanitation practices, our team at MXD Process is happy to help.