How often should food preparation surfaces be sanitized?

Sanitizing food preparation surfaces before and after each use is essential for preventing cross-contamination and ensuring food safety. This practice helps eliminate harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens that can be present on surfaces and may contaminate food. By applying sanitizer at the beginning of food preparation tasks, it creates a clean environment, and re-sanitation afterward ensures that any residue from the food preparation process is effectively removed. This regular sanitization is particularly crucial when switching between different food types, such as moving from raw meats to vegetables, to avoid the risk of foodborne illnesses.

Maintaining this routine of sanitization supports compliance with food safety standards and best practices, providing a higher level of protection for consumers. Regular sanitation procedures, rather than spot cleaning or infrequent sanitization, create a safe food handling environment.