What is the purpose of sanitizing food contact surfaces?

The purpose of sanitizing food contact surfaces is to reduce the number of microorganisms to a safe level. This step is essential in food safety as it minimizes the risk of foodborne illnesses that can arise from harmful bacteria or viruses that may be present on surfaces where food is prepared or served. Sanitizing is not just about removing food particles; it's specifically focused on targeting pathogens that could contaminate food and threaten health.

While removing food particles is important, it falls under cleaning rather than sanitizing. Eliminating odors is also not the primary aim of sanitization, although it may be a benefit of thorough cleaning. Keeping surfaces dry contributes to overall hygiene but is not the key objective of the sanitization process itself. The core focus remains on ensuring that surfaces are treated in a manner that significantly reduces microbial load to protect consumer health.