In late December 2015, a multi-unit fast food owner-operator with headquarters in western Pennsylvania received an unwelcome holiday present – a wastewater surcharge fine from a local municipal water authority to the tune of several thousand dollars!
In late December 2015, a multi-unit fast food owner-operator with headquarters in western Pennsylvania received an unwelcome holiday present – a wastewater surcharge fine from a local municipal water authority to the tune of several thousand dollars!
The very diligent owner-operator was shocked as none of his other locations had ever received such a fine. He was even more shocked to understand that this fine would be assessed to his location monthly, unless his Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD)* and Total Suspended Solids (TSS)** levels in his restaurant’s wastewater could be reduced dramatically.
These fines would dramatically impact the owner-operator’s bottom line! The situation, however, was not his or his employee’s fault. He had recently purchased several additional locations, including this store, which had gone through several changes of ownership within the past year. The previous owners had not been aware that these surcharges could be eliminated or reduced, mistakenly thinking they were treatment fees from the water authority.
Furthermore, this high-volume store unfortunately had a smaller-than-normal grease trap – only 500 gallons – when most commercial establishments have either 1000 or 1500 gallon traps. This store’s trap was cycling 1500 gallons of water a day. The trap had not been maintained well by the previous ownerships.
Typically, well-maintained grease traps prevent higher FOG levels from entering the municipal water system. They act as interceptors for food waste and grease from restaurants and other businesses with food service or food preparation, holding these potential pollutants in place while the normal wastewater flows through the interceptor and into the municipal sewer system. Grease traps are normally efficient systems, but require maintenance and should be regularly pumped-out by local sanitation contractors. Employees should also be trained to not overload the system with too much food debris or waste liquid added to the drains.
Our hero owner-operator in this particular instance, had inherited a two-fold problem… a busy establishment with a small trap, and a trap system that had not been pumped or well-maintained, possibly for years. This was forcing too much FOG into the municipal water lines. Municipal authorities regularly test BOD and TSS levels, and noted extremely high levels in a fourth quarter evaluation.
This location had BOD levels of 4660 mg/l and TSS levels of 580 mg/l. “Normal” BOD ranges for the water authority were 300 mg/l and TSS was 350 mg/l. The BOD levels were extremely high, which is often typical for very busy restaurants, according to one representative from the municipality.
In this situation, however, the owner-operator was both a diligent businessman and nationally recognized by his franchise. Newly aware of this situation, he and his people rapidly began to put a plan in place.
The Solution. First, he proactively contacted the municipal water authority, to better understand the issues and to seek advice and guidance. Second, he called Pelican Solutions.
From previous experience at several of his original group of stores with a Pelican product – Xpel Original – he and his managers knew that Xpel’s beneficial bacteria and surfactants worked rapidly in Fast Food drains to naturally digest biofilm (FOG). Xpel thus changes the environment where fruit flies – a pervasive nuisance in food service operations – could feed and breed, either in food prep or floor drains. With no biofilm odors to attract the pests, and no biofilm for feeding or nesting, fruit flies quickly become absent.
The owner-operator reasoned that if Xpel was effective in reducing FOG in drains, it could be effective on FOG in grease traps!
His Pelican Solutions' friends were coincidentally studying wastewater treatment data from experience with larger Food Processing operations. They rapidly provided Xpel product for a test, and offered further expertise to develop a treatment protocol.
The steps for success were as follows:
· On the advice of the water authority, the owner-operator contracted a local, reputable sanitation service to pump out the trap, and to continue doing so on a monthly basis
· He also hired a plumbing contractor to jet out the effluent line from the trap into the sewer system, to ensure the line’s normal flow was free of any grease blockage that developed over time.
The stage was now set for Xpel to begin work under better circumstances.
On a twice-weekly basis, the restaurant personnel began applying measured portions of Xpel to drains that were known to lead to the grease trap, and also to apply Xpel directly to the trap itself, through the exterior manhole cover, once weekly.
The initial plan was to treat the restaurant’s system for six weeks, with BOD and TSS levels to be checked by an independent environmental testing lab, which had previously been conducting tests at the location for the water authority.
However, because of a simple timing miscommunication, the next lab test was conducted by the water authority only three weeks into the test.
The Results. The good news, was that, after only three weeks, Xpel had already reduced the BOD level from 4260 mg/l to 1492 mg/l.
With the partnership and approval of the water authority, the Xpel protocol continued for the remaining three weeks, and another test was scheduled. This time, BOD levels were at an all-time low of 660 mg/l, and TSS levels were within the acceptable range.
The owner-operator’s proactive and efficient plan, and the subsequent results, so impressed the water authority that they rebated the latest fine, and suspended subsequent fines for six months. This saved the owner-operator thousands in fines, over and above the cost of Xpel and the pumping/line maintenance.
Added benefits included no fruit flies and no sugar snaking (clogging) of beverage drain lines.
The owner-operator and Pelican Solutions are continuing monthly tests, to further determine the most efficient application of Xpel and to regularly monitor the issue.
Net-net: another satisfied Pelican Solutions’ customer saving thousands of dollars because of Xpel, and a greener, cleaner community water system: a huge win-win overall.
Xpel Original is the effective, efficient and economical choice for drain remediation and grease trap issues. Xpel eliminates odors and breaks down biofilm. Visit www.xpelsolutions.com or call 844-GET-XPEL for more info.
*BOD is a measure of pollutants in wastewater typically monitored by water treatment authorities. If BOD levels are too high, the effluent wastewater requires additional, sometimes costly, treatment at the community water treatment plant. This extra treatment can be charged back to commercial operators, in the form of water bill surcharges or fines.
**TSS is also a measure of wastewater pollution. High BOD and TSS levels are often caused by too much FOG (Fats, Oils and Grease) in the commercial establishment’s water and sewage system.
On July 15, 2016, CDC declared the multi-state outbreak investigation of listeriosis linked to frozen vegetables to be over. The outbreak, identified in March, had been under investigation by FDA, CDC, state, and local officials. Following is the final update report.
On July 15, 2016, CDC declared the multi-state outbreak investigation of listeriosis linked to frozen vegetables to be over. The outbreak, identified in March, had been under investigation by FDA, CDC, state, and local officials. Following is the final update report.
The FDA facilitated the recall of at least 456 products related to this outbreak. CRF Frozen Foods recalled 358 products and at least 98 other products were recalled by firms that received CRF- recalled products.
The CDC reports that nine people infected with the outbreak strains of Listeria monocytogenes were reported from four states (California, Connecticut, Maryland, and Washington) from September 2013 to May 2016. Ill people ranged in age from 56 to 91, with a median age of 76. Epidemiology and laboratory evidence indicated that frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods of Pasco, Washington, and sold under various brand names are one likely source of illnesses in this outbreak. As discussed further below, CRF Frozen Foods initiated a recall of certain products.
As part of a routine product sampling program, the Ohio Department of Agriculture collected packages of frozen vegetable products from a retail location and isolated Listeria monocytogenes from True Goodness by Meijer brand frozen organic white sweet cut corn and frozen organic petite green peas. Both products were produced by CRF Frozen Foods.
Whole genome sequencing showed that the Listeria monocytogenes isolated from the frozen corn was closely related genetically to eight bacterial isolates from ill people, and the Listeria monocytogenes isolate from the frozen peas was closely related genetically to one isolate from another ill person. This close genetic relationship provides additional evidence that the people in this outbreak became ill from eating frozen vegetables produced by CRF Frozen Foods.
Based on the positive findings by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, on April 22, 2016, CRF Frozen Foods ceased production at its Pasco, Wash., facility and recalled 11 frozen vegetable products because they may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. On May 2, 2016, following a conversation between FDA, CDC, and the firm, CRF Frozen Foods expanded its recall to include all of its frozen organic and traditional fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in its Pasco facility since May 1, 2014. Approximately 358 consumer products sold under 42 separate brands were recalled. Recalled products were sold nationwide and in the following Canadian Provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of recalled product samples collected from ill people in California and Idaho revealed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes matching the outbreak strain.
Additionally, March 2016 environmental samples collected by FDA from Oregon Potato Company, located in Pasco, Wash., were found to be closely related genetically to eight of the isolates of ill people associated with this outbreak. Based on this information, Oregon Potato Company voluntarily recalled wholesale onion products, which led to subsequent downstream customer recalls, one of which publicly disclosed Oregon Potato Company as its product source. FDA worked to identify other parts of the relevant supply chain and facilitated recalls where necessary. However, FDA is prohibited by law from releasing publicly certain information about supply chains, which may constitute confidential commercial information.
The FDA facilitated the recall of at least 456 products related to this outbreak. CRF Frozen Foods recalled 358 products and at least 98 other products were recalled by firms that received CRF-recalled products. For a complete list of recalls linked to CRF Frozen Foods, see http://www.foodsafety.gov/recalls/recent/listeria.html.
What Specific Products Were Recalled?
On April 22, 2016, CRF Frozen Foods recalled 11 frozen vegetable products because they may be contaminated with Listeria. On May 2, 2016, CRF Frozen Foods expanded its recall to include all frozen organic and traditional fruit and vegetable products manufactured or processed in CRF Frozen Foods’ Pasco facility since May 1, 2014. These products have “best by” dates of April 26, 2016, through April 26, 2018, and may have been purchased in all fifty U.S. states and the following Canadian Provinces: British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan.
The FDA facilitated the recall of at least 456 products related to this outbreak. CRF Frozen Foods recalled 358 products and at least 98 other products were recalled by firms that received CRF-recalled products. For a complete list of recalls linked to CRF Frozen Foods, see http://www.foodsafety.gov/recalls/recent/listeria.html.
Additionally, FDA has established a Major Product Recalls page for CRF Frozen Foods related recalls.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the investigation into frozen fruits and vegetables produced at CRF Frozen Foods in Pasco, Wash.
This outbreak investigation is over. However, people could continue to get sick because recalled products may still be in freezers and people who don’t know about the recalls could eat them. Retailers should not sell and consumers should not eat recalled products, CDC says.
An old technology that uses natural bacteria predators, called bacteriophages, is the focus of new research at the University of Nevada, Reno. The technique reduced salmonella bacteria in meat products by as much as 90 percent. Assistant Professor Amilton de Mello, from the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources at the University of Nevada, Reno, presented his research at the international American Meat Science Association's conference June 20-22 in Texas.
PCT’s Distance Learning Center continues to expand with the addition of a label training module for AMVAC's Orthene PCO Pellets Insecticide.
CLEVELAND, Ohio — PCT’s Distance Learning Center continues to expand with the addition of a label training module for AMVAC's Orthene PCO Pellets Insecticide. Visit https://training.pctonline.com and get started on the module.This and other label training modules are the centerpiece of PCT’s Distance Learning Center — a FREE service for the professional pest control market provided by PCT.
How it works? Created by Board Certified Entomologist and consultant Stoy Hedges, the courses use photographs, video clips and reference materials to challenge users’ knowledge, experience and problem-solving skills for a wide range of products and pest problems.
Accessible by PC, tablet or smartphone, Distance Learning Center training is presented in modules designed to take a half-hour to an hour to complete. Their brevity gives individuals the opportunity to fit this education in whenever their schedules allow — even during breaks or lunchtime. And if a user needs to stop while taking a course, no problem: He or she can close the program and pick up at the point left off later.
Each label course is designed around reading and interpreting a specific pesticide product label, covering all aspects of the label — from trade name, target pests, hazards and first aid to areas for treatment and directions for use. As the user takes the course, he or she will be required to identify pests or treatment sites by photograph and determine whether such pests or sites are included on the label and/or interpret how that product may be used to treat the pest according to label directions.
Training is divided into sections with three to seven related questions, and upon selecting the correct answer(s), an explanation of the correct answer is provided, sometimes with a tip on where the pest professional can find the answer in the reference materials. These explanations help to improve the user’s understanding of the topic materials.
Visit https://training.pctonline.com to get started, and return frequently as new label training modules are being added monthly.