La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § VII-929

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

Section VII-929 - Protection from Contamination

A. Dairy plant operations shall be so conducted and equipment and facilities located in such manner as to prevent contamination of dairy products, ingredients, packaging materials, equipment, containers and utensils.

B. All milk products or ingredients which have been spilled, overflowed or leaked shall not be used for human consumption.

C. The storage, handling or use of poisonous or toxic materials shall be performed in such a manner as to preclude contamination of milk products, ingredients, packaging materials or product contact surfaces of equipment, containers or utensils. All containers containing poisonous or toxic materials, including cleaning and sanitizing compounds, shall be distinctly and prominently labeled.

D. All equipment and piping containing cleaning solutions/compounds shall be physically separated from equipment containing dairy products.

E. All equipment and piping containing pasteurized food products shall be physically separated from equipment and piping containing unpasteurized food products.

F. Pasteurized dairy products shall not be permitted to come in contact with equipment or piping with which unpasteurized dairy products or non-dairy products have been in contact, unless such equipment has first been properly cleaned and sanitized.

G. All water used to flush pasteurized product out of lines, vessels or equipment shall be pasteurized or treated by other treatment approved by the state health officer with the concurrence of the FDA. All lines, vessels or equipment that have contained water or product that was not pasteurized or treated, as afore provided, shall be cleaned and sanitized prior to use for pasteurized products.

H. The dairy plant shall be used for no other purpose than the processing of dairy products and the operations incident thereto, provided that the state health officer may authorize the processing or handling of products other than dairy products in such a manner as to preclude the contamination of dairy products, product contact surfaces of all equipment, piping or containers.

I. Air under pressure that comes in contact with dairy products or product contact surfaces shall be free from oil, dust, rust, excessive moisture, extraneous materials or odor and shall comply with the requirements for air under pressure contained in the PMO.

J. Steam that is used in contact with dairy products shall comply with the applicable standards of the PMO and be of culinary quality.

K. Equipment and operations shall be so located within the dairy plant as to prevent overcrowding and contamination of product, equipment, containers, packaging materials or ingredients by splash, condensation, manual contact or drippings, spillage or splash from overhead piping, cooling equipment, platforms, etc.

L. Effective insect and rodent control programs shall be conducted. Dogs, cats and other animals or fowl and birds shall not be allowed in the dairy plant.

M. Multi-use containers or equipment used for dairy products, such as milk crates, bossy carts, milk cans, etc., that have been on premises where swine or poultry are kept, or premises where raw poultry or pork products are processed or have been used to store raw poultry or pork products shall not be used in the processing or handling of dairy products.

N. Eggs and raw egg products shall be handled or stored in areas separated from dairy products in such a manner as to preclude contamination of floors, conveyors, cases, etc., used for dairy products handling or storage, provided, that delivery vehicles are exempt from this requirement when adequate steps are taken to preclude contamination of dairy products or containers/crates from broken eggs or leaking raw egg products.

O. Fork lifts, pallet jacks and other materials handling equipment that have been in contact with driveways, concrete/ground surfaces of the exterior of the dairy plant or have been used in areas where meat, poultry, pork and returned dairy products are handled shall not enter the areas of the dairy plant where dairy products are handled, processed or stored or areas in which containers and equipment are cleaned, sanitized or stored.

P. Entry into each specific area of the plant where dairy products are handled, processed, packaged or stored shall be restricted to personnel whose presence is necessary for conducting, supervising or inspecting operations in that specific area. Training activities may be allowed.

Q. Each entrance into each area where dairy products are handled, processed, packaged, stored or dairy equipment is cleaned shall be provided with footwear baths containing sanitizers that effectively sanitize footwear. These footwear baths shall be so located and maintained in such a manner as to effectively sanitize the footwear of all persons entering these areas. Spray type devices and other devices approved by the state health officer that adequately perform the same function as the footwear baths may be used.

R. Lighting fixtures shall be constructed and installed in such a manner as to preclude the contamination of products, ingredients, packaging material, packaged products or product contact surfaces of equipment.

S. Graded dairy products, not in the final package, shall not be permitted to come in contact with products of a lower grade or with ungraded products or with utensils, piping or equipment which has been in contact with lower grade or ungraded products unless such utensils, piping or equipment have been properly cleaned prior to use for higher graded product.

T. Returned dairy products (dairy products that have left the direct control of the plant that processed them) shall be handled in such a manner that they do not come in physical contact or contact through drippage or spillage with any area in which other products are stored or handled. They shall not come in such contact with any equipment used in the handling of other products. The returned dairy products shall be clearly identified and other prudent measures taken to preclude contamination or integration with wholesome products.

U. All floor drains in areas of the plant used for receiving, processing, handling dairy products and where containers, utensils and equipment are cleaned shall be kept in good repair, cleaned and sanitized at least once each week. Brushes used to clean floor drains should be color coded and said brushes shall not be used for any other purpose.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § VII-929

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 37:2675 (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.