Guidelines and test methods for the safe
and hygienic processing of foods

Prevent food contamination through good hygienic practice, with the help of these documents from the European Hygienic Engineering Design Group (EHEDG).

The EHEDG includes representatives from across Europe, bringing together research and technology organisations, equipment manufacturers, food companies and government organisations. Prevention of food contamination through good hygienic practice is becoming ever-more important in the production of safe and wholesome food products. EHEDG has therefore developed guidelines and test methods for the safe and hygienic processing of foods. The objectives of the group include:

• To eliminate confusion regarding conditions under which equipment is microbiologically safe for food processing and packing
• To ensure that products are processed and produced hygienically by the industry
• To provide standards organisations with specialist views on hygienic aspects of equipment design
• To identify areas where knowledge of hygienic and aseptic design is lacking and to encourage research and development in these areas

The current titles in the EHEDG series of guides are:

1. Microbiologically safe continuous pasteurisation of liquid foods (12 pages)
2. A method for assessing the in-place cleanability of food processing equipment (third edition) (14 pages)
3. Microbiologically safe aseptic packing of food products (11 pages)
4. A method for the assessment of in-line pasteurisation of food processing equipment (9 pages)
5. A method for the assessment of in-line sterilisability of food processing equipment (second edition) (9 pages)
6. The microbiologically safe continuous flow thermal sterilisation of liquid foods (22 pages)
7. A method for the assessment of bacteria tightness of food processing equipment (second edition) (9 pages)
8. Hygienic equipment design criteria (second edition) (13 pages)
9. Welding stainless steel to meet hygienic requirements (19 pages)
10. Hygienic design of closed equipment for the processing of liquid food 2nd edition (22 pages)
11. Hygienic packing of food products (15 pages)
12. The continuous or semi-continuous flow thermal treatment of particulate foods (24 pages)
13. Hygienic design of equipment for open processing (20 pages)
14. Hygienic requirements on valves for food processing (second edition) (16 pages)
15. A method for the assessment of in-place cleanability of moderately-sized food processing equipment (11 pages)
16. Hygienic pipe couplings (23 pages)
17. Hygienic design of pumps, homogenisers and dampening devices (second edition) (13 pages)
18. Passivation of stainless steel (11 pages)
19. A method for assessing the bacterial retention ability of hydrophobic membrane filters (6 pages)
20. Hygienic design and safe use of double-seat mixproof valves (19 pages)
21. Challenge tests for the evaluation of the hygienic characteristics of packing machines for liquid and semi-liquid products (32 pages)
22. General hygienic design criteria for the safe processing of dry particulate materials (20 pages)
23. Production and use of food-grade lubricants (19 pages)
24. Prevention and control of Legionella spp. (including legionnaires disease) in food factories
    (24 pages)
25. Design of mechanical seals for hygienic and aseptic applications (14 pages)
26. Hygienic engineering of plants for the processing of dry particulate materials (32 pages)
27. Safe storage and distribution of water in factories (16 pages)
28. Safe and hygienic water treatment in food factories (22 pages)
29. Hygienic design of packing systems for solid foodstuffs (23 pages)
30. Guideslines on our handling in the food industry (53 pages)
31. Hygienic engineering of fluid bed and spray dryer plants (19 pages)
32. Materials of construction for equipment in contact with food (57 pages)
33. Hygienic engineering of discharging systems for dry particulate material (16 pages)
34. Integration of hygienic and aseptic systems (34 pages)
35. Hygienic welding of stainless steel tubing in the food processing industry (27 pages)
36. Hygienic engineering of transfer systems for dry particulate materials (20 pages)

38. Hygienic engineering of rotary valves in process lines for dry particulate materials (13 pages)

In many of these the clear text is supplemented with extensive illustrations, figures and flow charts, some of which are in colour. The guides are available individually or as a complete set.