Harsher sanitation chemicals used for food safety are causing significant machine wear and corrosion, with 63% of end users reporting moderate to severe impacts on machinery. Industry leaders agree a standardized chemical resistance rating system is needed to protect equipment while maintaining food safety standards.
- 63% of end users report sanitation procedures have moderate, high, or severe impact on machinery wear
- 56% of OEMs and suppliers confirm harsher cleaning chemicals primarily damage sensitive components like sensors and control panels
- Only 7% of OEMs and suppliers provide chemical supplier-preferred lists despite widespread equipment damage
- 82% of OEMs and suppliers and 66% of end users agree a standardized chemical resistance classification system is needed
- Data based on 130 industry surveys and interviews from PMMI Business Intelligence research
Machines naturally wear out over time, but could sanitation processes play more of a role? End users, OEMs, and suppliers agree that harsher cleaning chemicals cause machine wear and corrosion.
That’s according to PMMI Business Intelligence’s “Food Safety and Sanitation Trends: End User, OEM, and Supplier Perspectives,” a report that explores the importance of adhering to food safety regulations and effectively executing sanitation strategies providing information on regulations, strategies, and exclusive insights. The report’s findings are based on 130 surveys/interviews with industry professionals, 77% of whom are CPGs or contract packagers, and 23% who are OEMs and suppliers.
Sixty-three percent of end users report that sanitation procedures have a moderate, high, or severe impact on the wear of their machinery. The same proportion of respondents indicate that harsher cleaning chemicals contribute to machine wear either occasionally or frequently.
Meanwhile, 63% of OEMs and suppliers report that their customers are using harsher sanitation chemicals, while 56% say that these harsher cleaning chemicals are primarily damaging sensitive machine components like sensors and control panels. Despite this, the Business Intelligence team finds that very few OEMs and suppliers provide any kind of chemical recommendations to their end users.
Just 7% of OEMs and suppliers provide chemical supplier-preferred lists through direct partnerships, and 11% provide specific chemical supplier recommendations. Moreover, a mere 15% provide lists of acceptable chemical suppliers.
In the end, though, end users, OEMs, and suppliers agree that the food and beverage industry could benefit from a standardized chemical resistance rating system on machinery, as 82% of OEMs and suppliers either somewhat or strongly agree there is a need for a standardized chemical resistance classification system, and 66% of end users share the same sentiment.
SOURCE: 2025 Food Safety and Sanitation Trends: End User, OEM, and Supplier Perspectives
For more insights from PMMI’s Business Intelligence team, find reports, including “2025 Beverage Packaging Trends“ and 2025 Performance Optimization: Insights for Packaging Line Readiness” at pmmi.org/business-intelligence.
