What does it mean to sanitize?

Sanitizing refers to the process of using heat or chemicals to significantly reduce the number of germs on surfaces to ensure they are safe for food preparation and consumption. This process is crucial in maintaining food safety and preventing foodborne illnesses. By effectively reducing harmful microorganisms, sanitization helps create a safer environment in food handling and preparation areas.

Washing surfaces with soap and water is a cleaning process, not sanitizing, as it may not necessarily kill germs but rather removes dirt and debris. Applying chemicals to food before cooking may refer to certain practices but does not define sanitization in relation to surfaces. Using vinegar to clean surfaces is also a cleaning method, although vinegar has some antimicrobial properties, it does not fully meet the requirements needed for proper sanitization that specifically aim to reduce pathogenic microorganisms effectively.