The processing environment monitoring aims to ensure food handlers operate in a hygienic and safe environment, focusing on zoning, training, cleaning efficacy and eliminating harborages. Sampling plans should balance routine and investigative samples, identifying ‘gatekeeper’ points to prevent contamination and ‘investigation’ points to locate potential harborages. Corrective actions, including thorough cleaning and root cause analysis, follow positive results. Vector samples aid in identifying contamination sources, while strain typing helps determine necessary corrective actions.  

The dairy sector emphasises monitoring to evaluate zoning, hygiene practices and sanitation efficacy, crucial for preventing recontamination events. Following a publication on processing environment monitoring, under the umbrella of ILSI Europe with ICMSF Members, François is working together with the International Dairy Federation (IDF) on developing similar guidelines for the dairy industry.