The food industry is heavily regulated and at times very complex. The 2017 FDA Food Code requires DAILY cleaning of Soft Serve and Shake Machines. Users should follow the steps in the owner’s manual to disassemble and reassemble intricate parts ensuring the machine is cleaned thouroughly.
So, how is this FDA regulation enforced?
Well, the answer is going to make your head spin faster than the Froyo coming out of your machine.
Each State Health Department operates as their own entity and enforces the FDA Food Codes differently. Some states diligently perform laboratory tests on restaurant food to check for bacteria while other states simply visually inspect soft serve and shake machines for cleanliness.
Businesses that sell soft-serve ice cream are considered by some Health Departments as low risk. Low risk meaning, compared to businesses that sell meat or vegetables where food contamination is much easier to take place. Therefore, Inspectors don’t prioritize these businesses for audit more than once a year.
Straight From the Source
We talked to one of our favorite Florida health inspectors that said, “Ice Cream shops operate on an “honor” system for daily cleaning of their machines, but if we observe obvious signs of neglect or unsanitary conditions we dive deeper into cleaning practices. We will then issue citations for violations that have occurred in the restaurant.”
If you have questions about cleaning frequencies in your area contact your local food protection agency or reach out to the Hydra Rinse® team. Check out more info on Food Safety Factors in Fast Food Establishments, here.
I live in Wichita, KS. We ate at McDonslds. We had shakes they were bad. One store said “the GM cleans the machine once every week.” Another store said every 14 days or when it messes up. Company policy. To me that is nasty. I’ve worked in food service we cleaned our machine nightly. How do I get this checked out, before someone gets sick.
Thank you for your commitment to food safety Sharon. Talking to your local health department in Wichita would be the first step. There are many “heat treat” machines that do not have to be fully disassembled and cleaned as often as others. The health department will be able to tell you what the cleaning requirement is that area with their specific machine. Thank you, keep us posted.