ANN ARBOR, Mich. — NSF International has launched a certification program for commercial laundering operations, according to a press release.
The certification program is to verify the effectiveness of commercial laundering operations in disinfecting and cleaning towels, napkins, tablecloths and other linens and fabrics used in hospitality and food service operations, stated the release.
The first consensus-based protocol, reported the release, developed under the NSF Commercial Laundering Certification program is for napery products (NSF P413: Hygienically Clean Napery in Commercial Laundering Operations) and verifies laundering facilities have “quality control measures in place to ensure the laundering process is capable of consistently removing potential pathogens or other unacceptable bacterial organisms from soiled napery.”
Alsco Inc. is the first to earn certification to the NSF napery protocol for 69 of its facilities throughout North America, continued the release.
The release added that to earn this certification, Alsco had to complete a “rigorous certification process,” which included: A desk audit, submitting an organizational management system for review; an on-site facility audit, ensuring compliance with the certification program and the organizational management system, as well as on-site inspections of everything, from wash resources and procedures to handing the final product; and product testing, microbial testing to confirm the facility’s effectiveness at removing pathogens and bacteria.
Protocols for commercial towels, bedding and other laundered products used in food service and hospitality operations are under development, noted the release.
You can find the release here.
