Machine and method for producing and dispensing liquid or semi-liquid consumer food products

A machine for producing and dispensing liquid and semi-liquid consumer food products, comprising:

• a container for a basic product of a consumer food product,
• a feed and treatment circuit having an infeed end connected to the container for receiving the basic product from the container, a transformation mechanism for transforming the basic product into the consumer food product and an outfeed end for outfeeding the consumer food product from the feed and treatment circuit,
• a dispensing mechanism connected to the outfeed end of the feed and treatment circuit for dispensing the consumer food product,
• a checking device operatively associated with at least one chosen from the container, the feed and treatment circuit and the dispensing mechanism for checking at least one of the basic product and the consumer food product and generating a signal corresponding to a value of a bacterial load of the at least one of the basic product and the consumer food product,
• an electronic control unit operatively associated with the checking device for controlling the checking device, including being configured for receiving the signal from the checking device and determining if the bacterial load is above a reference value for hygienic operation based on the signal,
• a washing device operatively associated with the at least one chosen from the feed and treatment circuit, the container and the dispensing mechanism for performing a washing operation on the at least one chosen from the feed and treatment circuit, the container and the dispensing mechanism,
• the electronic control unit also being operatively associated with the washing device for automatically controlling the washing device, including being configured for outputting a signal to the washing device to perform the washing operation upon determining that the bacterial load is above the reference value for hygienic operation.