The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies ice as a food item. Even though there are standards designed to ensure food is handled safely, ice machines are regularly disregarded.
Many people incorrectly assume that all ice makers can also automatically clean themselves. Some also believe that because ice is a frozen material, it cannot sustain the growth of any harmful bacteria or germs within the ice maker because it would cause the ice to melt too quickly.
We are aware that bad ice quality, health risks, the possibility of legal concerns, and costly equipment repairs may all be avoided with routine cleaning and maintenance of the ice machine.
But, if the ice maker hasn’t been properly maintained, there is the potential for it to provide risks. Contaminants could still be in your ice even if you take all the necessary safety precautions.
In addition to the dangers they pose to human health, they may also cause damage to machinery. The people of Austin, Texas can depend on the knowledgeable and highly qualified staff at ALKCOOL Refrigeration to provide comprehensive ice machine cleaning and maintenance services.
Ice Characteristics
Keeping your customers happy means maintaining a standard of excellence in the quality of the food and beverages you offer them at your establishment.
When the ice that an ice maker produces is not properly maintained, the quality of the ice that is produced is diminished.
It’s possible that when limescale and calcium accumulate in your machine, the smell and taste of your ice will begin to worsen. The melting ice will also affect the beverage that the customer ordered. In light of this, it is necessary to maintain the ice makers consistently.
If you do not properly maintain your machine, you may notice that the ice melts more quickly. There is a possibility that the shape and appearance of your ice cubes will change.
If the ice maker is not operating as it should, the water may include excessive oxygen and impurities.
If you choose to produce ice with this approach, it will melt more quickly in your customers’ beverages, which will cause the drink to become watered down and probably won’t have a very pleasant flavour.
The double adverse effect will dissuade customers from making subsequent purchases.
Mold and fungi are the primary components of the biofilm that covers mould
In rare instances, the consumer might be able to see mould or germs on the product. If commercial ice producers are not kept clean, then there is a possibility that mould will grow in the ice chute. \Such is not necessarily the case, even though the ice maker gives off the impression of being immaculate.
Even if you follow all of the recommended food handling rules, there is still a chance that airborne particles will get into your ice maker and cause problems.
The draught from the kitchen can carry yeast and grease into the ice maker, causing it to become contaminated. Mold can quickly become an issue in environments without enough illumination and effective moisture control.
The accumulation of organic matter (food, bacteria, and mould) in an ice maker can lead to the formation of biofilm slime. The slime that forms from biofilm, commonly known as “pink slime,” is unpleasant to look at and difficult to remove.
The typical cleaning procedures will not be sufficient to remove the filth from your apparatus. Because of the intense deep cleaning and sanitation requirement, you have run into manufacturing issues, and your customers have expressed dissatisfaction with the product.
Concern for the Health and Safety of Both the Clientele and the Staff
Several depressing studies have shown that the quality of the water used for making ice in some restaurants is even lower than that of the water used in the bathrooms of those same restaurants.
Regardless of how frightening this may be to some, it should serve as a warning about how contaminated an ice machine may become if basic preventative maintenance is neglected.
Anybody who comes into contact with the ice stands the risk of having discomfort in their nose and throat; however, people whose immune systems are compromised or who are allergic may experience more severe reactions.
Mold and germs that grow in ice machines have been related to increased asthma and other respiratory difficulties. Ice machines are also associated with increased risk of foodborne illness.
Even though the unit did not cause the problem, if ice is not handled properly, bacteria and germs can be introduced into the ice machine.
Freezing can considerably reduce the risk of food-borne illness from listeria, pathogenic E. coli, salmonella, and norovirus.
Even though the water systems that your equipment uses are hygienic, there is still a chance that customers will become ill.
Acts that violate the Health and Safety Code
Serving ice contaminated from ice makers is one of the most common ways the Health Code is broken.
Infractions of health rules are detrimental to a company’s bottom line for more reasons than one.
If your company violates health codes, you risk being fined or having to close down until the problem is resolved.
Customers are discouraged from patronising establishments that have somehow broken the health code.
This could end up being detrimental to the success of your organisation in the long run at any time, but particularly today, when concerns around sanitation are at an all-time high.
How To Take Care Of Your Ice Maker So That It Remains Healthy
Your ice maker will continue to do a good job for you for many years to come as long as you properly maintain it.
It will be difficult for the proprietor of a firm to deal with the repercussions of ignoring their ice machines, which may result in pricey repairs.
These repairs could be necessary. The production rate begins to slow, and the components fail individually.
The search for a dependable ice machine repair service available around the clock has begun. Nobody is eager to face this cost on top of a loss in income, hence nobody wants to do it.
To guarantee that your ice maker continues to generate ice of a high quality at a price that is affordable, the professionals at ALKCOOL Refrigeration can design a routine maintenance schedule for you to follow.
If the idea of maintaining your ice machine gives you anxiety and you want to ensure that your company always complies with the Health Code, then you should discuss your options with us.
