Evaluation of Robotic Swabbing and Fluorescent Sensing to Monitor the Hygiene of Food Contact Surfaces

Effective environmental monitoring is critical for preventing microbial and allergenic cross- contamination. However, manual swabbing methods, commonly used to verify hygienic conditions, are prone to inconsistent results because of variability in pressure, coverage, and techniques. Two novel solutions will be explored to address these challenges: a robotic swabbing system with tactile sensing control, and a fluorescence/absorbance spectrometer for non-contact, protein-based residue detection....