Minnesota Administrative Rules

4626.0890 4-603.17 RETURNABLES; CLEANING FOR REFILLING.*

A.

Except as specified in items B and C, returned empty containers intended for cleaning and refilling with food shall be cleaned and refilled in a regulated food processing plant.

B.

A food-specific container for beverages may be refilled at a food establishment if:

(1)

only a beverage that is not a potentially hazardous food is used as specified in part 4626.0295, item A;

(2)

the design of the container and of the rinsing equipment and the nature of the beverage, when considered together, allow effective cleaning at home or in the food establishment;

(3)

facilities for rinsing with fresh, hot water that is under pressure and not recirculated are provided, before refilling returned containers, as part of the dispensing system;

(4)

the consumer-owned container returned to the food establishment for refilling is refilled for sale or service only to the same consumer; and

(5)

the container is refilled by:

(a)

an employee of the food establishment; or

(b)

the owner of the container if the beverage system includes a contamination-free transfer process that cannot be bypassed by the container owner.

C.

Consumer-owned containers that are not food-specific may be filled at a water vending machine or system.

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