Pests & FacilitiesQuestion 132 of 240
What is the difference between cleaning and sanitizing?
a.Cleaning removes visible dirt and food; sanitizing then reduces pathogens to safe levels
b.Cleaning kills germs; sanitizing removes dirt
c.Sanitizing is done first, then cleaning
d.They are the same thing
Explanation
Cleaning removes visible soil, grease, and food debris with detergent, while sanitizing uses heat or chemicals to reduce pathogens on an already-clean surface to safe levels. A surface must be cleaned first, because sanitizer cannot work through dirt and grease. Both steps are needed to make food-contact surfaces safe.
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