Patent ID: 8545638

Claim:
A method of cleaning a food plant of the type which produces an aseptic product or a product with extended shelf life, the method comprising: circulating a heated first alkaline detergent solution through a circulation cycle of the food plant; circulating first rinsing water through the circulation cycle of the food plant following circulation of the heated first alkaline detergent solution through the circulation cycle of the food plant; circulating an acidic cleaning solution which is at a first temperature through the circulation cycle of the food plant following circulation of the first rinsing water through the circulation cycle of the food plant; circulating second rinsing water through the circulation cycle of the food plant following circulation of the acidic cleaning solution through the circulation cycle of the food plant; and circulating through the circulation cycle of the food plant a heated second alkaline detergent solution which is at a second temperature higher than the first temperature to effect pre-sterilization of the circulation cycle, the second alkaline detergent solution being circulated at a temperature of from 137° C. to 140° C., the circulation of the heated second alkaline detergent solution following the circulation of the second rinsing water.