Subject: Sanitation (5/27/1993)
[8/31/92] FDA Sanitation - There have a great number of reports recently about the Food & Drug Administration's enforcement of sanitary rules concerning Amtrak. This started out, as I understand it, because it was discovered that hoses for putting potable water into Amtrak cars were found lying on the ground, without sheaths to cover the ends of the hoses, and thus being subject to contamination. However, once the Food & Drug Administration began looking at things, they also discovered that refrigerators were not working, and occasionally evidence of vermin in the cars were discovered. whether we are subject to FDA regulations or not (and we probably are), the very last thing we need is a passenger who gets food poisoning, or some other dread disease, because of our failure to comply with rudimentary public health practices.
The Pullman Company used to require that all potable water systems be flushed monthly. Sanitizing, when indicated, consisted of adding an appropriate germicide. The Pullman Company required one quart of Chlorox bleach to each tank full of water, in order to sanitize the drinking water system. This was then flushed out with fresh water. Unless you keep freshly chlorinated water in your car, there is no reason why you should not chlorinate your water system several times a year by using a simple bleach solution. An ounce per 100 gallons is probably enough. The matter of refrigeration for food stuffs is likewise important. To retard the growth of bacteria, food should be kept below 40 deg., or above 140 deg. F. Freezers should keep food at 0 deg. F. Don't be caught with "slime in the ice machine".
The Food Service Sanitation Manual, published by our Food and Drug Administration, deals with the preparation, refrigeration, sanitation and service of food to all persons except family and guests. It is FDA Publication 78-2081, Printing Office Stock Number 017-012-00267-6, price $5, and is available from:
Supt of Documents
US Govt Printing Office
Washington DC 20402
Phone orders accepted 8am/4pm eastern time, 202-512-2457
[5/27/93] FDA Sanitation - In my last report I talked about Amtrak's problems with the Food & Drug Administration, and particularly tried to cover the concept that all potable water systems should be flushed out and sanitized on a regular basis. I received a nice letter from Joe Harris of Ansco Investment, which operates the Denver & Rio Grande ski train. They have a formalized procedure for disinfecting and flushing all of their potable water tanks. They use considerably more chlorine bleach than I had found mentioned in the Pullman reference. A 300 gallon tank calls for 2 quarts of Clorox (or other non-detergent bleach) and a 600 gallon tank calls for a little over 4 quarts of Clorox. This is done every 120 days. While all of the lines must receive and hold the treated water for 30 minutes, care must be taken to prevent the entrance of Clorox treated water into the Microphor system, because it will kill the beneficial bacteria in the digester part of the system. He also sent me Amtrak SMP 47601 which reports that chlorine test strips are available. These test strips show the parts per million of chlorine in the water, which during sanitizing should be at least 100, at every tap. Bob Lovelace of Norfolk Southern also does the same thing every 12 months, or if the car has been inactive, then every three months. Norfolk Southern uses 3-1/2 pints of Clorox to a 250 gallon storage tank. This is allowed to fill the system, and all the branch pipes, and then stand for 30 minutes. It is then flushed out, and the tanks are cleaned. Norfolk Southern then adds 2-1/2 ounces of Clorox to the flushed system, which remains there until used up.
Paul L. DeVerter II
Comments