Method for preventing bacterial growth in a food processing plant and such a plant for carrying out the method

A method for preventing bacterial growth in a refrigerating or freezing plant for food, said plant (1) comprising a substantially closed housing (2) and, arranged therein, refrigerating means (3) for refrigerating food in said housing, comprising:

• activating said refrigerating means for a work period (T1) to refrigerate or freeze food;
• and
• inactivating said refrigeration means and cleaning said plant during a rest period (T2), wherein said cleaning includes raising the temperatures in the plant above a temperature requisite for killing bacteria and maintaining air pressure in the plant higher than the ambient pressure, at least during the entire rest period, by supplying air through a bacteria-intercepting filter (8) within said plant via a compressed-air container (15) and exhaust nozzles (16) arranged in the plant (1).

A plant for refrigerating or freezing food, comprising a substantially closed housing (2) and, arranged therein, means (3) for refrigerating food in said housing, and having an operating cycle which comprises a work period (T1) during which the refrigerating means (3) are active, and a rest period (T2) during which the refrigerating means (3) are inactive and the plant can be cleaned, means (11, 12) for raising the temperature in the plant (1) during a rest period (T2) above a temperature requisite for killing bacteria, and air supply means (7, 8, 14-18) for supplying air free from bacteria to the interior of the plant in order to raise the air pressure therein above the ambient pressure, at least during the entire rest period (T2), said air supply means comprising a fan (7) which communicates with an opening (6) in the housing (2) of the plant for supplying air for as long as the temperature in the housing is above a given temperature.

A plant for refrigerating or freezing food, comprising a substantially closed housing (2) and, arranged therein, means (3) for refrigerating food in said housing, and having an operating cycle which comprises a work period (T1) during which the refrigerating means (3) are active, and a rest period (T2) during which the refrigerating means (3) are inactive and the plant can be cleaned, means (11, 12) for raising the temperature in the plant (1) during a rest period (T2) above a temperature requisite for killing bacteria, and air supply means (7, 8, 14-18) for supplying air free from bacteria to the interior of the plant in order to raise the air pressure therein above the ambient pressure, at least during the entire rest period (T2), said air supply means comprising a fan (7) which communicates with an opening (6) in the housing (2) of the plant for supplying air for as long as the temperature in the housing is above a given temperature, wherein the air supply means comprise an air compressor (14) which is connected in series to a compressed-air container (15) having an air outlet (16) disposed in the plant.