CVR Uniforms of Shippensburg, Pa. recently qualified for renewal of Hygienically Clean Food Service certification. The achievement reflects the company’s consistent commitment to best management practices (BMPs) in laundering as verified by on-site inspection and their capability to produce hygienically clean textiles as quantified by ongoing microbial testing.  Originally earned in 2017, the certification confirms a laundry’s dedication to recognized industry standards and using BMPs as described in its quality assurance documentation, a focal point for Hygienically Clean inspectors’ evaluation.

In business for over 50 years under three generations of family management, CVR serves Central Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. After operating as a Newville/Shippensburg-based dry cleaner, the Fry family operation recast their business in 1976 as Cumberland Valley Rentals and changed the name to CVR Uniforms in 2013. Described today as providing a fusion of laundry rentals, direct sales, and safety clothing, the company uses multiple delivery options and gives clients freedom to decide how and when their orders are received.

Hygienically Clean third-party laundry inspections confirm essential evidence that:

• Employees are properly trained and protected
• Managers understand regulatory requirements
• OSHA-compliant
• Physical plant operates effectively

To achieve certification initially, laundries also must pass three rounds of outcome-based microbial testing, indicating that their processes diminish presence of yeast, mold and harmful bacteria. To maintain certification, quarterly testing is mandatory to ensure that as laundry conditions (including water quality, textile fabric composition and wash chemistry) change, laundered product quality is consistently maintained. This process eliminates subjectivity by focusing on outcomes and results that verify textiles cleaned in these facilities meet appropriate hygienically clean standards and BMPs.

Hygienically Clean Food Service certification:

• Builds the confidence of full- and limited service restaurants and other food service operations in a laundry’s effectiveness in protecting their operation by verifying its quality control procedures related to Food Service.
• Requires examining the laundry’s Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) practices, evaluating the plant’s techniques for:
  • Conducting hazard analysis
  • Determining CCPs, monitoring their control, correcting them if not under control
  • Validating and verifying HACCP system effectiveness
  • Documenting and record-keeping to show ongoing conformance
• Evaluates practices relevant to handling and processing textile products used in food service establishments for consistency with U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) directives. Introduced in January 2016, Hygienically Clean Food Service brought to linen and uniform service laundering in North America the international cleanliness standards used worldwide by the Certification Association for Professional Textile Services and the European Committee for Standardization.

“Congratulations to CVR Uniforms on their continued best practices that earn the Hygienically Clean Food Service certification,” said Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “Their achievement proves their commitment to infection prevention and that the laundry takes every step possible to prevent human illness.”

For information on Hygienically Clean and other TRSA certification programs, contact Angela Freeman, director, certification programs, at 703.519.0029, ext. 111, or email afreeman@trsa.org.

ABOUT HYGIENICALLY CLEAN

Hygienically Clean certification is the fastest growing and most recognized international standard for processing healthcare linens and garments. The Hygienically Clean microbial standard (laundries must pass quarterly RODAC and semi-annual USP 62 testing – RODAC results less than or equal to 20 cfu per square decimeter and USP 62 results must show absence of microbial quality as per test 62) is based on the most stringent European standard. This combination of process and outcome measures ensures textiles cleaned in certified facilities meet standards appropriate for businesses that use them, with specialty certifications (Hygienically Clean Food Safety, Hygienically Clean Food Service, Hygienically Clean Healthcare, Hygienically Clean Hospitality). For more than 106 years, TRSA, as the Association for Linen, Uniform and Facility Services has represented the interests and facilitated continuous process improvements for companies that supply, launder and maintain linens and uniforms. For access to certification-specific resources and training created by the TRSA healthcare committee and the Hygienically Clean Advisory board, visit  www.hygienicallyclean.org.