UniFirst's garment disinfection service clears lab test

As part of the processing and distribution of food products, the garments that workers wear can naturally accumulate pathogens, such as Salmonella, Listeria, and, E. coli -- all of which contribute to food borne illnesses. If those work garments are not hygienically laundered with services designed specifically to eradicate food safety risks, those pathogens can remain active and can continue to contaminate food products.

The UniFirst UniSafe Service and Product Protection Process (PPP), offered through the company's managed uniform rental programs, is a specialized hygienic laundering and handling service specifically designed to eliminate contamination threats on garments worn by employees within food-related businesses, whether they are found in manufacturing, processing, distribution, or retail. Given the publicity that several large scale food contamination recall events have received over the past year, food industry managers will want to be more vigilant in controlling all sources of potential cross contamination.

UniSafe/PPP was tested by scientists at Environmental Monitoring Associates, Inc. of Nashua, NH, an independent laboratory services company. EMA's lab results measured reductions of the most common classes of pathogens on employee work apparel, including bacteria, yeasts, and molds -- all recognized as sources of dangerous contamination in the consumer food supply chain. EMA's analysis demonstrates that UniSafesm processing kills virtually all organisms tested.

"We're obviously pleased that our UniFirst UniSafe Service passed all microbial tests with flying colors, effectively reducing microbiological contamination to levels approaching sterility, killing more than 99.9999% of pathogens," says Adam Soreff, Director of Marketing and Communications for UniFirst.

"This is great news for our many food industry customers concerned with food product safety throughout all aspects of the supply chain, right down to the uniforms and the garment processing they receive."

Food-related businesses now have a scientifically proven choice for effective garment disinfection consistent with their food safety goals. The UniSafe Service program is based on principles set forth in Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) application guidelines, and identifies and mitigates risks involved with food contamination.