A recent research made by the Universities of Lubiana and Copenaghen found that warewashers are a heaven for bacteria and pathogens.
Which those bacteria and pathogens are?
We are talking about bacteria like the Escherichia coli, which may cause food poisoning, the Pseudomonas and the Acinetobacter. They mentioned also fungi like Candidiadis, Cryptococcosis and Rhodotorula, which are causing infections and intoxications. Those agents can be seriously harmful, especially for who is already immunocompromised.
Why do they appear?
According to academics, the bacteria formation is most likely depending by the introduction of contaminated food.
Fungi growth, instead, may come from the water supplying the warewasher since in some cases it helps the limescale formation.
Where do they appear?
Those pathogens growth is helped by hot and moist conditinos, for this reason it’s easy to find them on the rubber membrane of the warewasher door.
How can we prevent their growth?
- Preferring warewashers with a door closing that uses magnets in neodymium, granting an high magnetic attraction
- Paying attention to the inlet water hardness since an irregular and rough surface created by limescale deposits is an ideal ground for bacteria and other microorganisms. In case of water hardness higher than 15°F is always suggested to use a water softener
- Using always professional chemicals made by antibacterias and anti-limescale agents in addition to surfactants and defoamers.
Follow these tips will help you to grant your flatwares clean and brilliant, giving a special care to the correct hygiene of your warewasher.