Minnesota Administrative Rules

4626.0235 3-302.11 PACKAGED AND UNPACKAGED FOOD; SEPARATION, PACKAGING, AND SEGREGATION.*

A.

Food shall be protected from cross-contamination by:

(1)

separating raw animal foods during storage, preparation, holding, and display from:

(a)

raw ready-to-eat food including fish for sushi, molluscan shellfish, or other raw animal food, and vegetables; and

(b)

cooked ready-to-eat food;

(2)

except when combined as ingredients, separating types of raw animal foods from each other during storage, preparation, holding, and display by:

(a)

one of the following:

i.

using separate equipment for each type of food; or

ii.

arranging each type of food in equipment so that cross-contamination of one type with another is prevented; and

(b)

preparing each type of food at different times or in separate areas;

(3)

cleaning equipment and utensils as specified in part 4626.0845, item A, and sanitizing as specified in part 4626.0905;

(4)

except as specified in item B, storing the food in packages, covered containers, or wrappings;

(5)

cleaning hermetically sealed containers of food of visible soil before opening;

(6)

protecting food containers that are received packaged together in a case or overwrap from cuts when the case or overwrap is opened;

(7)

storing damaged, spoiled, or recalled food being held in the food establishment as specified in part 4626.1505; and

(8)

separating fruits and vegetables, before they are washed as specified in part 4626.0255, from ready-to-eat food.

B.

Item A, subitem (4), does not apply to:

(1)

whole, uncut, raw fruits and vegetables and nuts in the shell that require peeling or hulling before consumption;

(2)

primal cuts, quarters, or sides of raw meat or slab bacon that are hung on clean, sanitized hooks or placed on clean, sanitized racks;

(3)

whole, uncut, processed meats including country hams and smoked or cured sausages that are placed on clean, sanitized racks;

(4)

food being cooled as specified in part 4626.0390, item B, subitem (2); or

(5)

shellstock.

Statutory Authority:

MS s 31.101; 31.11; 144.05; 144.08; 144.12; 157.011

History:

23 SR 519

Published Electronically:

October 11, 2007