CITY is the only Hygienically Clean – Food Safety Certified Plant in Iowa and Minnesota

CITY Laundering has proudly renewed its status as a certified laundry operation for hygienically clean food safety for the third consecutive time. This achievement solidifies CITY as the only laundry operation in Iowa and Minnesota to reach this prestigious milestone.

“In food safety, there is no room for errors. That is why we have a process that has been certified and verified,” CITY President Colin Wetlaufer said. With this certification, “We can guarantee a hygienically clean product to all our food processing customers.”

On top of food processors, consumers also want to know where their food comes from and what’s in it. More consumers than ever are focusing on food safety, and the role farmers, government agencies, manufacturers, retailers, and consumers play in the food supply chain.

Transparency in Processing

A consumer’s concern for food health and safety dives even deeper into the entire food supply chain.

According to an article in Food Safety Tech, recalls are occurring four times as often as they did five years ago, resulting in negative financial consequences and loss of consumer confidence for food companies.

To combat this issue, food companies need to value traceability, which aids in the identification of contaminated products. Traceability is maintained by managing Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), maintaining proper facilities and equipment, complying with Standard Operating Procedures, and maintaining an effective HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) program.

“Especially in our region, the upper Midwest is full of food processors that are focused on maintaining their own HACCP plan, and we know the importance of having a hygienically clean operation and the impact it has on our clients and their consumers,” Director of Communication Emily Hauber said. “That is why we decided to become certified back in 2018, and CITY has maintained that high level of execution through three separate certification renewals.”

What Hygienically Clean Certified Entails 

The Hygienically Clean Food Safety certification is awarded by the Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) and recognizes linen, uniform, and facility services companies that meet the highest standards of cleanliness and safety. CITY’s recent re-certification followed a rigorous third-party audit and inspection process, including outcome-based microbial testing to verify that their laundering processes consistently deliver textiles free of harmful bacteria, yeast, and mold.

“To me, it’s essential that the customer doesn’t have to worry about their items not being hygienic, and being Hygienically Clean certified guarantees that peace of mind,” said Luis Portillo, CITY’s Director of Operations.“Some people may assume we are done now that we have the re-certification but there is always constant monitoring from our housekeeping, our records, and of course doing our ongoing testing to prove we are maintaining the Hygienically Clean standards.”

Part of the TRSA Hygienically Clean certification is that laundry processing plants complete routine testing by sending various items to a third-party clinic for microbial testing.  CITY also follows a comprehensive quality management program that includes temperature and quality testing of our water (conducted by supplier partner Norchem, Corp.), washers, dryers, and steam tunnel.

“Our quality management system is not just a process for our workflow, but it’s a system for how we’re going to run the operations of our business,” Colin Wetlaufer, president of CITY, said. “It’s easy to do the big things right, I think it’s hard to do the little things right, day in and day out every day, and that is what our CITY quality management system is all about.”

The Commitment to Being Hygienically Clean

CITY Laundering’s commitment to maintaining its Hygienically Clean certification is a testament to its dedication to excellence, safety, and customer satisfaction. By adhering to rigorous standards and continuously refining its processes, CITY ensures that every garment and textile meets the highest cleanliness levels.

“It is one thing to say you are providing a Hygienically Clean solution but to be able to prove it, is another thing,” Emily said. ”There are others that provide similar laundry services like CITY, but being third-party certified is a big difference than being self-certified.”

This ongoing responsibility is not just about earning a certification—it’s about providing peace of mind to customers, building trust, and fostering long-term relationships. As CITY moves forward, it remains steadfast in its mission to deliver clean, safe, and reliable textile solutions that exceed expectations.