Sanitizing seems straightforward within the food industry: sanitize surfaces to keep them safe. But what is the definition of “sanitized”? What is considered “safe”? Sanitation chemical supplier Bell Chem wants to shed light on these very important questions to allow our customers the safest route to protect themselves and their customers.

What Most People Know

COVID-19 has caused the majority of people to understand the difference between “washing” and “sanitizing,” especially as these terms relate to hands. Can sanitizing only occur with alcohol in a bottle, though? No. A surface is sanitized when cleaning kills 99% of microbial life considered harmful, the product remains stable under normal conditions, is not considered toxic, and can be used on food and the surfaces food comes into contact with. 

Differences Between Sanitizers

Surprisingly, hand sanitizers and surface sanitizers have different base ingredients: hand sanitizers are primarily alcohol based, and non-alcohol hand sanitizers contain chlorine. Surface sanitizers, however, contain chlorine, quaternary ammonium, or iodine as their primary sanitizing ingredient. 

Types of Surface Sanitizers

Chlorine

The most recognizable surface sanitizer is chlorine because of its effectiveness in breaking down microbial membranes, oxidizing proteins, and disturbing the metabolic processes of organisms. Chlorine has the added benefit of being inexpensive. Examples include chlorine dioxide and hypochlorides.

Quaternary Ammonium

Quaternary ammonium compounds are positively charged ions in the form of a surfactant, which naturally finds negatively-charged proteins — such as those in bacteria, viruses, yeasts, mold or other enveloped microbes — and denatures proteins as it breaks the electron transport chain in cellular respiration. Quaternary ammonium compounds are stable, much friendlier to skin than chlorine, and non-corrosive.

Iodine

Iodine converts to iodide in the presence of bacteria or other microbes. In this form, it denatures proteins and disrupts the transport of electrons responsible for cellular respiration, much like quaternary ammonium compounds. Iodine is very effective, but it may stain plastic surfaces and is more expensive than other sanitizers.

How to Choose a Sanitizer

The type of sanitizer you choose will be based on information more than simply price, though. The amount of time the product is in contact with the surface, whether the sanitizer contains cleaners and detergents, the shape of the surface, the concentration of the sanitizer, and the overall temperature of the cleaner or surface all have to be considered. Contact the knowledgeable staff at Bell Chem to discuss the best sanitizer option for your organization. 

Bell Chem is a sanitation chemical supplier based in Longwood, FL (just north of Orlando) with hundreds of products stocked in their 50,000+ square-foot warehouse, including CSANTM sanitation products. You can expect the highest quality products, expedited shipping options for maximum efficiency, and unrivaled personalized customer service. Let our knowledgeable and friendly customer service representatives and accounting staff personalize all your needs by either calling 407-339-BELL (2355) or by sending us an online message.