What must be tested to ensure proper sanitizer concentration?

To ensure proper sanitizer concentration, testing with paper test strips is essential. Sanitizers are chemical solutions used to kill bacteria and other pathogens on food contact surfaces, and ensuring they are at the correct concentration is critical for effective sanitation. Paper test strips are designed to provide a quick and easy way to measure the concentration of various sanitizers, such as chlorine or quaternary ammonium compounds. By dipping a test strip into the sanitizer solution, the color change observed can indicate whether the concentration is within the safe and effective range as specified by regulatory standards.

Other methods, such as measuring dishwasher temperature or testing the temperature of ice water or food surfaces, do not directly assess sanitizer strength. While these aspects are important for different reasons in food safety and handling, they do not provide information on whether the sanitizing solution is at the appropriate concentration to effectively eliminate harmful microorganisms.