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What is the primary purpose of cleaning before disinfection in food processing ?
A. To add flavour to food surface
B. To remove visible soil that shield microorganisms
C. To increase temperature
D. To reduce initial load of microorganisms
E. To add odour
Choose the correct answer from the options given below :

This question was previously asked in
CUET PG 2026 Agri-Business Management Question Paper (25-Mar-2026) (Shift 2)
The correct answer is
B and D only

Food Processing: Cleaning Before Disinfection Purpose

In food processing environments, maintaining hygiene is crucial for food safety. Cleaning and disinfection are sequential steps, each with specific roles.

Why Cleaning is Essential Before Disinfection

Cleaning is the physical process of removing organic matter, soil, and other debris from surfaces. This step is critical because:

  • Removing Shielding Soil (Option B): Visible soil (like food residues or biofilms) can physically block disinfectants from reaching microorganisms. Cleaning removes this barrier, allowing the disinfectant to work effectively.
  • Reducing Microbial Load (Option D): Cleaning removes a significant portion of microorganisms along with the soil. This lowers the initial population of microbes (the microbial load), making the subsequent disinfection step more efficient and achievable with lower concentrations or shorter contact times.

Analyzing Other Options

Let's look at why the other options are not primary purposes of cleaning before disinfection:

  • Adding Flavour (Option A): Cleaning aims to remove contaminants, not add flavour.
  • Increasing Temperature (Option C): While hot water might be used in cleaning, the primary goal isn't temperature increase but physical removal of soil. Disinfection might involve heat, but it's a separate objective.
  • Adding Odour (Option E): Cleaning is intended to remove odours associated with soil and microbial growth, not to introduce new odours.

Conclusion

Therefore, the primary purposes of cleaning before disinfection are to remove soil that shields microorganisms and to reduce the initial microbial load, ensuring the effectiveness of the disinfection process.

The correct options representing these primary purposes are B and D.

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