Gem Scientific | Blog

17/06/2020

Rapid Cleaning Verification for Health Clubs, Gyms and Leisure Centres

When your gym members exercise with the same equipment, it may improve their health, but without regular cleaning, the same equipment also creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Maintaining and verifying cleanliness helps create a healthier facility and ensures you retain your positive brand image and reputation. Monitor your hygiene levels and by verifying the effectiveness of cleaning procedures and protocols with rapid cleaning verification tests. Hygiena’s EnSURE™ Touch Monitoring System and easy-to-use tests detect adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy molecule in all living organisms. The EnSURE Touch is... Read More

26/05/2020
, ,

Limiting infection and contamination through cleaning and verification in food manufacture

Studies conducted by the New England Journal of Medicine show that coronaviruses remain viable on plastics for 72 hours, stainless steel for 48 hours, cardboard for 24 hours and copper for 4 hours.  Residues remaining on surfaces can also sustain the viability of bacteria.  This highlights the significance of cleaning and verifying the cleanliness of your weighing machinery and work areas. It is important to make sure your equipment is appropriate for your environment. The legal requirements for hygienic design of food machinery, set out by the Health and Safety... Read More

19/05/2020
,

How do you prove you’re working to high hygiene levels?

Hygiene has always been a core focus for the hospitality industry, and in the post-COVID-19 world, this focus will be stronger than ever. When you reopen to the public, customers will be more diligent and demand the highest standards of cleanliness. Implementing a more rigorous cleaning regime will be vital when hospitality businesses reopen but how do you prove you’re working to high hygiene levels? ATP hygiene verification systems use bioluminescence technology to identify and measure adenosine triphosphate, commonly known as ATP. ATP is an energy molecule found in all... Read More

27/03/2020
,

Hygiena ATP Cleaning Verification and COVID-19

In times like these, knowledge is power: how Hygiena ATP cleaning verification systems can help Hygiena™ has been closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation and the implications it has for its employees, distribution network, customers and communities. During this time they have received a multitude of questions regarding our solutions as they pertain to the situation. With their permission, we are sharing their update which explains how their ATP Cleaning Verification products work and are suggested to be used in this troubling time. How Hygiena ATP Cleaning Verification Products Work:... Read More

26/03/2020
, , ,

Food Industry Month: Conclusion

Week 1: Environmental Monitoring Recognising food safety and quality issues As the world increasingly recognises food safety and food quality failures, there’s more emphasis on the environmental monitoring programs. Read more… Environmental monitoring for spoilage organisms Environmental monitoring is used by food production companies to plan for microbial spoilage as it allows them to address the issues as they arise. Read more… The importance of identifying specific goals in environmental monitoring Although there isn’t a universally recognised framework for environmental monitoring, there are some approaches which are consistent with other... Read More

25/03/2020
,

What is M.A.P?

Modified Atmosphere Packaging (M.A.P) is used to extend the shelf life of fresh food products. All foods e.g. red meat and bread, have different gas compositions. Red meat needs high levels of oxygen to maintain the red colour, vegetables usually need a three-gas mixture and bread require low levels of oxygen to avoid mould. The main cause of the spoilage of food is the growth of microbes such as yeasts, bacteria and mould which are present all around us. These microbes cause the food to go bad because they feed... Read More

20/03/2020
,

A guide to General Allergen Monitoring

Content: What is a food allergy? Key allergens Production facilities Kitchens Non-packaged food Packaged food Cleaning surfaces Training staff Our allergen product range What is a food allergy? A food allergy is a medical condition in which exposure to food triggers a harmful immune response. This immune response, or allergic reaction, occurs because the immune system attacks proteins in the food that are normally harmless. The proteins that trigger the reaction are called allergens. In the UK it is the law for food businesses to inform consumers if they use... Read More

19/03/2020

Actions we’re taking to support your business through COVID-19

As the UK works to put measures in place to support vulnerable groups, communities, and businesses during these unprecedented times, we too are proactively adjusting the way we operate to protect our colleagues and you, our valued customers. Hygiene and health are our core focuses.  As such, we’re stringently following the advice of Public Health England and the World Health Organisation.  Our colleagues have been self-isolating with any on-set of symptoms, and similarly where family members are affected and where possible, our teams are also working from home to enable... Read More

12/03/2020
, ,

Swabbing Techniques

Learn how to achieve accurate and reliable swabbing on surfaces and machinery at your facility HOW TO COLLECT A REPRESENTATIVE SAMPLE To collect a substantial sample on a flat surface, swab a 10 X 10 cm square. In a hard-to-clean area, swab as much surface as possible. For swabbing inside a cylinder, turn the swab 3 times. This technique applies to all swabs, regardless of brand. SWABBING TECHNIQUE DON’T touch the swab shaft or the swab bud DON’T keep the swab straight DON’T lightly swab the surface DON’T Collect a... Read More

10/03/2020
, ,

Guide to ATP monitoring

Guide to ATP monitoring ATP monitoring is a quick, simple-to-use testing method for assessing the cleanliness of surfaces in food processing facilities. Food and beverage facilities are using ATP monitoring to validate that there is no presence of ATP. If there is a presence of ATP on a surface, it indicates it hasn’t been cleaned properly. An unclean surface has the potential to harbour bacterial growth. The surface should be re-cleaned and re-tested with a luminometer. What is ATP? Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is present in all micro-organisms, plant and animal... Read More