// ARIZONA TECH ZONE Presented By
Safer Sanitation Finding New Solutions to the Battle Against Bacteria, Mold, and Pathogens In November 2021, several Arizona cannabis companies recalled products due to Salmonella or Aspergillus contamination. Recalls cost cannabis companies time, money, and reputational harm. A similar situation in Michigan impacted more than $200 million worth of cannabis product, reported the Detroit Free Press. Often these recalls could be avoided with proper cleaning protocols. Bill Frazier, National Sales Director for Clean Control Corporation (CCC) said the cannabis industry needs consistent cleaning practices to avoid contaminating products with mold and bacteria. “Our company is addressing the need for cannabis-specific standard operating procedures, whether it’s a cultivator grow house, transportation, processing facility, or dispensary.” CCC is offering these SOPs at no cost on its website. The company’s technology, a bleach alternative called OdoBan® Disinfectant and Odor Eliminator, is safe for use in grow facilities, kills 99.99% of bacteria (including COVID-19), and costs .35-.50 cents per gallon depending on dilution. For Arizona operators, there are some regulations around cleanliness and sanitation. For instance, all trucks, trays, buckets, receptacles, as well as machinery, saws, cleavers, etc., must be cleaned each day. But Frazier said those requirements aren’t enough. “Cleaning rooms when moving plants and enacting common cleaning procedures like OdoBan shoe-baths can help reduce contaminants significantly.” These sanitation regulations are especially important for edibles. The founder of the Arizona-based Foundation of Cannabis Unified Standards, Lezli Engelking, said cannabis is a unique industry with unusual risks. “Food safety regulations are critical to protecting the safety of patients, consumers, workers, and the public from unsafe processes
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Cannabis & Tech Today // Winter 2021
Clean Control Corporation Sales and Production Project Manager Walker Davison with National Sales Director Bill Frazier.
and products,” Engelking said in an interview with Food Safety Magazine. “Yet, among the states that have legalized either medical and/or adult-use cannabis, very few measures have been implemented directly involving food safety.” Engelking also warned that traditional solvents and cleaners are often not effective against the resins from cannabis extracts. Cannabis-specific cleaners, while limited, are designed specifically to combat this issue. As the industry evolves, regulations around sanitation will only become more strict. Cannabis companies need to enact forwardthinking policies, so they’re prepared as new regulations are released. Frazier said his own near-death experience and subsequent use of medical cannabis drew him to the industry. He is now committed to making cleaning, disinfecting, and odor elimination a priority for the entire cannabis industry.
“We quickly saw the need for cleaning information and advice. We are offering 40+ years of cleaning, disinfection, and odor elimination experience to the cannabis industry. Our cannabis cleaning SOPs are available to anyone, free of charge,” Frazier said. In addition to innovative cleaning products, operators will increasingly rely on technology to keep their processes hygienic. “To assist in meeting these food safety requirements, we will see operators begin to rely more on automated technology related to environmental monitoring and surveillance to assure sanitary practices are effective and being followed,” Engelking said. If cannabis companies are going to avoid massive recalls, product loss and build consumer confidence, it will take more than advances in technology. Companies will have to create their own policies to deal with internal safety, sanitation, and cleanliness. ❖
