Cleaning & Disinfection

Hygienicum®, is a leading consulting institute for microbiology & hygiene, based in Graz,Austria. They are specialists in providing state-of-the-art solutions not only within theFoodservice industry.

Who are Hygienicum®?

There are several different types of standard tests available, but Hygienicum® tested ourmachines using a more rigid version of the koller test procedure. They performed the various tests on our appliances with a bacteria known as enterococcus faecium, that isresistant up to 70 °C for 10 minutes. The tests were performed using a mix of nigrosin solution, flour, eggs and powdered potato flakes plus the enterococcus faecium bacteria,at a concentration of 10

The Analysis

7 /g. This mix was applied to various pre-heated plates, bowls,cutlery & glasses, to a thickness of 2 mm. Then, after being left to dry for 1 hour at room temperature, they were washed in the dishwasher and evaluated according to DIN10510 & DIN 44 990. According to the state of the art in dishwashing, the best weapon against thisaggressive bacteria is heat. Electrolux’s solution to this problem is the medical- line , a specific range designed tomeet hospital requirements, that require each wash cycle to provide a temperature of 85 °C for 30 seconds but measured on all items in the basket, (and not just in the boiler). Thisis achieved with a rinsing time of 35 seconds, utilising the large 12 litre boiler, that is double the capacity of most undercounter dishwashers. Hospitals are also working kitchens, so they require as short a wash cycle as possible, ofless than 5 minutes.

The Dishwasher

The tests performed were to verify cleaning & disinfection efficiency. After 5 tests, the cleaning efficiency was so high that it scored 4,86 out of a possible 5,well within the tolerance limit of ±0,2.The disinfection test, was even more convincing. Skim and pick-off tests from thecrockery & cutlery showed that no bacteria were present, even when no detergent wasused. Even if there was some soil residue remaining, the bacteria were not present.The tests also involved an analysis of the wash water in the tank, the side walls &nozzles, after the washing cycle had been performed. The result was that there was asignificant reduction in bacteria, proving that the medical-

Test result

line provides effectivedisinfection, not only of the items washed, but of the wash tank.