Preventing Foodborne Diseases with Thermometer Probe Wipes
According to the CDC*, microbial contamination of food (Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella, etc.) is the most serious and most frequent cause of food contamination in the U.S. Each year, 1 in 6 Americans (or 48 million people) get sick from, and 3,000 die as a result of food borne diseases. The CDC estimates that preventing a single fatal case of E. coli infection would save an estimated $7 million.
As a result, the CDC, FDA, and USDA all work together to develop regulations and recommendations whereby food production, transport and service are monitored and reported back for quality control and overall safety. HACCP programs, which consist of frequent and accurate temperature measurements, are an essential part of controlling the outbreak of harmful microbes that cause food borne diseases.
While thermometers, and the temperatures they take, are an integral part of any food safety plan, they can often be the direct cause of bacterial cross-contamination. Checking the temperature of food items without cleaning the probe between readings can, and often does, lead to microbes being transferred from contaminated items to those that are thought to be safe.
A simple, efficient and cost effective way to combat problems associated with this type of cross-contamination is the use of probe wipes between temperature taking. Designed specifically for food thermometers, probe wipes are pre-saturated with an effective cleaning solution whose sole purpose is to rid the probe of harmful bio-contaminants.
Wiping the probe of a thermometer clean before and after each measurement will significantly reduce the risk of cross-contamination. ThermoWorks' probe wipes have an odorless cleaning agent that drys quickly and won't taint the food it's being used to protect.
More importantly, training team members to clean the thermometer's probe between each use will develop better food handling practices, and help them understand the importance of food safety. Probe wipes are a small investment that can protect your business - and customers -from the hazards associated with foodborne diseases.