Issue View | Council I | 2023 Biennial Meeting

This is a brand new Issue.

Chemical Sanitizing test strips Expiration Date

4-501.116 Warewashing Equipment, Determining Chemical Sanitizer Concentration. Concentration of the SANITIZING solution shall be accurately determined using a test kit or other device according to manufacturer instructions. Language should be added regarding expired test strips.

The effectiveness of chemical sanitizers is determined primarily by the concentration and pH of the sanitizer solution. Therefore, a test kit is necessary to accurately determine the concentration of the chemical sanitizer solution.

These strips ensure that the right dilutions have been done & proper strengths of sanitizing/disinfection chemicals will work as needed.

According to manufacturer guidelines, expired tests strips may no longer be accurate in assessing the concentration or pH of the sanitizer and therefore, would no longer hold up as an accurate test to take enforcement on.

Some operators and inspectors may not realize that their test strips expire and could be checking their concentrations with expired strips that may not be giving an accurate reading, producing a potential health risk by being under or over the accepted limit. This false reading could cause someone to not be sanitizing at a high enough concentration which would be an issue, or they could be over sanitizing which would also lead to a potential health risk.

That a letter be sent to FDA requesting that Section 4-501.116 be modified as follows (new language is underlined)

4-501.116 Warewashing Equipment, Determining Chemical Sanitizer Concentration.

1. Concentration of the SANITIZING solution shall be accurately determined by using a test kit or other device.
2. Sanitizing test kit shall be used according to manufacture instructions and date marking limitations.