A simulation model to quantify the efficacy of dry cleaning interventions on a contaminated milk powder line

This work demonstrates the utility of modeling as a decision support tool to (i) estimate Salmonella cross-contamination into product under different scenarios, (ii) compare different cleaning interventions, and (iii) help inform the selection of a Salmonella surrogate for cleaning validation studies. Risk models can describe the tradeoffs associated with different dry cleaning strategies in low moisture food environments. For example, the model presented in this study can estimate the differences in product contamination as a consequence of flushing a processing line with increasing quantities of material. Additionally, outputs from this model can be used to evaluate the risk of cross-contamination from a contaminated dry cleaning tool. Finally, comparing outputs from a simulation model is an alternative method for comparing Salmonella surrogates used in dry cleaning validation. Simulation model outputs (i.e., prevalence and concentration of contaminated units) may be more broadly interpretable than comparing transfer coefficients alone, enhancing decision support.