La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § VII-307

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 11, November 20, 2024

Section VII-307 - The Official Sampling of Dairy Plant Environments and Dairy Products Including Frozen Desserts

A. Each bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler shall collect a representative sample of raw milk from each farm bulk tank prior to transferring the milk from the farm bulk tank to a milk tank truck each time raw milk is removed from the farm bulk tank. All samples shall be collected as directed by the state health officer and at least one set of samples collected from each farm bulk tank of each dairy farm supply represented in the load shall accompany the load of milk to the dairy plant, receiving station or transfer station at which it is unloaded.

B. Each dairy plant receiver/sampler shall collect a representative sample of raw milk from each tanker of raw milk that unloads at the plant each day. The dairy plant receiver/sampler shall obtain one set of the samples, collected by the bulk milk tank truck operator sampler, from each farm bulk tank of raw milk represented on the loads of raw milk from which the tanker samples were obtained. The dairy plant receiver/sampler shall store all of the samples in a manner consistent with the requirements of this Part and deliver them to the state health officer when requested.

C. The state health officer may sample the environments of each dairy plant using approved methodology for the sampling of plant environments for contamination with pathogenic microorganisms of human significance as often as he deems necessary. Controlling the environments of dairy plants to prevent contamination with pathogenic microorganisms is of utmost public health importance.

D. During each consecutive six months, at least four samples of raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization and aseptic processing shall be collected in at least four separate months, except when three months show a month in which two of the sampling dates were separated by at least 20 days, and delivered in accordance with the requirements of this section from each farm bulk tank of each producer. These samples shall be obtained under the direction of the state health officer or shall be collected from each producer by the state health officer.

E. During each consecutive six months, at least four samples of commingled raw milk for pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization or aseptic processing, collected in at least four separate months, except when three months show a month containing two sampling dates separated by at least 20 days, shall be taken from each dairy plant after receipt of the milk by the plant and prior to pasteurization, ultra-pasteurization or aseptic processing by the state health officer.

F. During each consecutive six months, at least four samples of heat-treated milk and milk products, from each plant offering such products for sale, shall be collected in at least four separate months, except when three months show a month containing two sampling dates separated by at least 20 days, by the state health officer.

G. During each consecutive six months, at least four samples of each type of dairy product being processed by each dairy plant domiciled within the state shall be collected by the state health officer. Each fat level of product, each flavor of flavored products, and each type of cultured product shall be sampled by the state health officer. The state health officer shall attempt to collect these samples of product in each size and type of container packaged by each plant.

H. During each consecutive 12-month period the state health officer shall collect from each dairy plant domiciled in Louisiana at least one sample of each dairy product to which vitamins have been added.

I. If production of any dairy product, for which a grading system is prescribed by this Part, is not on a yearly basis at least five samples shall be taken within a continuous production period.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § VII-307

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 37:2650 (September 2011).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:4(A)(1)(a). Also see R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(5)(7) (15)(17) and R.S. 40:922.