--- title: How to Automate Ready-to-Eat Food Safety for Hands and Footwear description: Discover how automation can revolutionize ready-to-eat food safety by eliminating human error in hand and footwear hygiene from the experts at Meritech! image: https://www.meritech.com/hubfs/RTE%201%20FI.png --- [ Skip navigation menu ](https://www.meritech.com/blog/how-to-automate-ready-to-eat-food-safety-for-hands-and-footwear#content) [![meritech-logo-tagline](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/lafferty-website-2026/global-assets/meritech-logo-tagline.png?width=200&height=74&name=meritech-logo-tagline.png) ](https://www.meritech.com/) - [ Hygiene Systems ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hygiene-solutions) Show submenu for Hygiene Systems - [ Automated Hand Hygiene ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hand-sanitation-stations) - [ Boot Scrubbers and Footwear Sanitation ](https://www.meritech.com/products/boot-scrubbers) - [ Industries ](https://www.meritech.com/markets) Show submenu for Industries - [ Food Processing & Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/food-processing) - [ Healthcare ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/healthcare_medical) - [ Hospitality ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/travel_leisure) - [ Education ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/education) - [ Gyms and Public Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/gyms-and-public-facilities-meritech) - [ Cleanroom and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/pharmaceutical-cleanroom) - [ Grocery ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/grocery) - [ Municipality and Correction Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/municipality-and-correction-facilities-meritech) - [ Why Us ](https://www.meritech.com/why-meritech) - [ Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) Show submenu for Support - [ Resources ](https://www.meritech.com/resources) - [ Blog ](https://www.meritech.com/blog) - [ Technical Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) - [ Success Stories ](https://www.meritech.com/meritech-cleantech-testimonials) [ Contact ](https://www.meritech.com/contact/) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ** Toggle main navigation - [ Hygiene Systems ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hygiene-solutions) Show submenu for Hygiene Systems - [ Automated Hand Hygiene ](https://www.meritech.com/products/hand-sanitation-stations) - [ Boot Scrubbers and Footwear Sanitation ](https://www.meritech.com/products/boot-scrubbers) - [ Industries ](https://www.meritech.com/markets) Show submenu for Industries - [ Food Processing & Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/food-processing) - [ Healthcare ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/healthcare_medical) - [ Hospitality ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/travel_leisure) - [ Education ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/education) - [ Gyms and Public Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/gyms-and-public-facilities-meritech) - [ Cleanroom and Pharmaceutical Manufacturing ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/pharmaceutical-cleanroom) - [ Grocery ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/grocery) - [ Municipality and Correction Facilities ](https://www.meritech.com/markets/municipality-and-correction-facilities-meritech) - [ Why Us ](https://www.meritech.com/why-meritech) - [ Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) Show submenu for Support - [ Resources ](https://www.meritech.com/resources) - [ Blog ](https://www.meritech.com/blog) - [ Technical Support ](https://www.meritech.com/services/technical-support) - [ Success Stories ](https://www.meritech.com/meritech-cleantech-testimonials) [ Contact ](https://www.meritech.com/contact/) # How to Automate Ready-to-Eat Food Safety for Hands and Footwear [Meritech](https://www.meritech.com/blog/author/meritech) Sep 29, 2023 3 min read ![](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/RTE%201%20FI.png?width=1600&height=900&name=RTE%201%20FI.png) In the fast-paced world of ready-to-eat (RTE) food production, ensuring the highest standards of food safety is non-negotiable. One of the critical aspects of maintaining this safety is the proper hygiene of hands and footwear, which are often underestimated sources of contamination. In this blog post, we'll delve into the risks associated with hands and footwear in the RTE food industry and explore exciting ways to safeguard your operations through automation. ![ready-to-eat food safety](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AdobeStock_526358121_Editorial_Use_Only.jpeg?width=1000&height=667&name=AdobeStock_526358121_Editorial_Use_Only.jpeg) ## The Significance of Hands and Footwear Hygiene in RTE Food Safety Our hands are incredible multitasking tools. Unfortunately, they are also prime carriers of bacteria, viruses, allergens, and other harmful pathogens. Similarly, while our shoes protect our feet, they can also unwittingly track in unseen dangers. This presents a challenge for RTE food operations where the safety of the end product is paramount. ## The Imperfections of Manual Hygiene Methods Traditional manual hygiene methods, though well-intentioned, leave room for human error. The length and quality of handwashing, for instance, can be influenced by various factors, such as distractions or time constraints. This is where automation comes to the rescue. [See a comparison between manual and automated handwashing](https://www.meritech.com/blog/manual-handwashing-vs-automated-handwashing-infographic) ## Embracing Automation for RTE Food Safety By incorporating automation into your hygiene process, you can significantly reduce the margin for error. For example, Our automated hygiene stations offer an impressive solution. These automated systems are capable of eliminating more than 99.9% of harmful pathogens with each hygiene event, surpassing the effectiveness of manual methods. ![Ready-to-eat food safety](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Images%20and%20Videos/EVO%20-%20GIF%20How%20to%20Use%20a%20CleanTech%20Station.gif?width=1440&height=810&name=EVO%20-%20GIF%20How%20to%20Use%20a%20CleanTech%20Station.gif) Unlike traditional handwashing, where human error can affect the outcome, Meritech’s hygiene automation ensures consistent and thorough hand and footwear sanitation. Not only does it eliminate the possibility of human error, but it also reduces the time needed for hygiene steps by half. [Read More about Why Automation ](https://www.meritech.com/why-meritech-automated-hygiene-equipment) ## Benefits of Automation in RTE Food Safety 1. **Enhanced Efficiency and Productivity:** Automation reduces human error, leading to consistent and efficient handwashing and footwear sanitation. This, in turn, boosts overall efficiency and productivity in your operations. 2. **Reduced Risk of Cross-Contamination:** Automated systems minimize the risk of cross-contamination, ensuring that your RTE products remain safe for consumption. 3. **Customer Trust and Loyalty:** As you prioritize food safety through automation, you'll not only safeguard your products but also build trust and loyalty among your customers who value safe and high-quality RTE foods. ## Real-World Impact of Automation [HelloFresh](https://www.meritech.com/blog/customer-success-story-hellofresh), a prominent name in the food industry, has embraced automation and experienced remarkable results. According to them, "You stick your hands in, and it does all the work for you. The easier you make it, the more fun it is, and your employees are going to follow that. That’s been really great for us." [See the Automation Impact on our Customer’s Facilities](https://www.meritech.com/meritech-cleantech-testimonials) ## Prioritize Food Safety Automation In conclusion, by automating RTE food safety measures, you're taking a proactive step to eliminate the potential risks associated with human error. With Meritech’s hygiene automation and similar solutions, you can ensure the highest hygiene standards are met consistently. This not only safeguards your RTE products but also demonstrates your commitment to food safety and employee health. Let's prioritize food safety automation to ensure that human error never jeopardizes the safety of Ready-to-Eat foods. By exercising caution, understanding the importance of cleanliness, and embracing automation, we can go a long way in safeguarding RTE products and customer health. [Learn more about how automation can benefit the RTE industry](https://www.meritech.com/markets/food-processing/ready-to-eat-food-manfacturing) ### Get The Latest Posts in Your Inbox ## Related Posts - ![](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Captive%20footwear%20FI.png?width=500&height=375&name=Captive%20footwear%20FI.png) [CleanTech® Footwear Hygiene](https://www.meritech.com/blog/tag/cleantech-footwear-hygiene) ### [ Automated Footwear Hygiene Vs. Captive Footwear Programs ](https://www.meritech.com/blog/automated-footwear-hygiene-vs.-captive-footwear-programs) Maintaining proper footwear hygiene is an essential aspect of ensuring a safe and hygienic food processing workplace ... 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Read more - ![](https://www.meritech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Essential%20Hygiene%20Practices%20for%20Frozen%20Food%20Manufacturing%20Regulations.png?width=500&height=375&name=Essential%20Hygiene%20Practices%20for%20Frozen%20Food%20Manufacturing%20Regulations.png) ### [ Essential Hygiene Practices for Frozen Food Manufacturing Regulations ](https://www.meritech.com/blog/essential-hygiene-practices-for-frozen-food-manufacturing-regulations) Even in frozen food manufacturing, good hygiene practices are a hot topic! When it comes to frozen food manufacturing ... 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