What counts as a food contact surface?

Any surface that food touches directly or could touch during preparation — worktops, chopping boards, mixer bowls, slicer blades, weighing scales, utensils, and the inside of storage containers. These surfaces must be cleaned and sanitised between different food types and at regular intervals.

How often must food contact surfaces be sanitised?

Between every task involving different foods (especially raw and ready-to-eat), at least every 2 hours during continuous use, and at the start and end of every shift. The cleaning process should follow the two-stage method: clean with detergent first, then apply sanitiser.

What is the two-stage cleaning method?

Stage 1: Clean the surface with a food-safe detergent to remove visible food residue and grease. Rinse if required. Stage 2: Apply a food-safe sanitiser at the correct concentration and leave for the specified contact time. This two-stage process is required by UK food safety law.

What sanitiser strength is required for food contact surfaces?

Typically 100-200 ppm for quaternary ammonium (QAC) sanitisers and 100-200 ppm for hypochlorite sanitisers. The sanitiser must conform to BS EN 1276 (bacteria) and ideally BS EN 13697 (surface test). Always check the product data sheet for the required use dilution.

CleanCalcs

Food Contact Surface Calculator

Calculate sanitiser volume for food contact surfaces to meet food safety standards.

Surface Type

Total Surface Area

Combined food contact surface area

Sanitiser Strength

Active % on concentrate label

Target Concentration

Required ppm for food safety

Cleans per Day

Sanitising frequency

Days per Week

How We Calculate This

How the calculation works

This calculator estimates sanitiser usage for food contact surfaces based on area, frequency and required concentration.

Formulae

Solution per clean = surface area × 50 ml/m²

Concentrate per clean = solution × (target ppm ÷ 1,000,000) ÷ (strength % ÷ 100)

Daily usage = per clean × cleans per day

Weekly concentrate = daily concentrate × days per week

Standard usage rate

50 ml of prepared solution per m² of surface, applied by spray or cloth.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities and timings for your specific situation.