The Science of Cleaning: Research-based insights for food safety
Webinar registration
Date: June 25th, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM CEST
This webinar is also offered at 3:00 PM PDT / 8:00 AM AEST (June 26th) in English only. Click here to register for this time slot.
Can’t attend the webinar? Register anyway, and we’ll email you a link to a recording a few days after the event. Spanish, French, and German translations will also be available on the recordings.
About the webinar
Effective cleaning is a cornerstone of food safety, playing a critical role in controlling hygiene risks and preventing allergen cross-contact. This webinar explores why cleaning matters, how it works, and what science tells us about achieving consistently effective removal of contamination from food contact surfaces and the tools used to clean them.
The session will begin by examining the relationship between inadequate cleaning, microbial survival, and allergen cross-contact.
The webinar will then present the findings of three independent research studies that,
Investigated the harbourage of microorganisms in sponges and brushes and outlines practical, evidence based approaches for keeping cleaning tools hygienic.
Compared the efficacy of ultra-microfibre cloths to multi-purpose wipes regarding the removal of allergenic milk proteins from food-grade stainless steel surfaces.
Evaluated any change in surface cleanability following repeated abrasion of common food contact surfaces by brushes with different bristle stiffnesses.
Attendees will gain an insight into how scientific research can help elucidate and strengthen cleaning best practices.
This session is designed for food safety, hygiene, and quality professionals seeking a deeper scientific understanding of cleaning and its critical role in contamination control within modern food production environments.
Meet the speakers
Trond Møretrø
Research scientist and food microbiologist at Nofima
Trond Møretrø is a research scientist and food microbiologist at Nofima – the Norwegian Food Research Institute, where he has worked for more than 30 years. His research focuses on microorganisms in food processing environments, particularly Listeria, with emphasis on hygiene, biofilms, and control measures such as cleaning and disinfection. He has also conducted extensive research on consumer food safety and kitchen hygiene.
Maria Oliver
Principal Scientist at InBio
Dr Maria Oliver is a Principal Scientist at InBio with over 15 years’ experience in immunology across academia and industry. She holds a PhD in viral immunology and specialises in immunoassay development, particularly multiplex platforms for allergen detection.
Since joining InBio in 2016, she has progressed to a leadership role overseeing R&D programmes and commercial contract research, while driving innovation in assay development and building collaborations with academic and industry partners. She has played a key role in developing novel technologies, including the Apollo air sampler for airborne allergen and endotoxin detection.
An experienced scientific communicator, Dr Oliver regularly presents at national and international conferences and contributes to peer-reviewed literature in the field of environmental and food allergen detection.
Jack Burnett, PhD
North American Hygiene Specialist, Vikan North America
Dr. Jack Burnett serves as the North American Hygiene Specialist for Vikan North America, a manufacturer of hygienic cleaning tools. He earned both his Master's and PhD in Food Science from Purdue University, where his research contributed to advancing the understanding of persisting Listeria in food processing environments.
His diverse background, from managing an apple orchard to studying pollination in bumblebees, informs his unique perspective on the intersection of ecology, microbiology, and food safety.