Rule 901:3-5-03 | Processes and controls.
(A) Processing operations.
The manufacturer shall employ appropriate quality control procedures to ensure that finished foods do not present a health hazard.
(1) Acidified foods shall be so manufactured, processed, and packaged that a finished equilibrium pH value of 4.6 or lower is achieved within the time designated in the scheduled process and maintained in all finished foods. Manufacturing shall be in accordance with the scheduled process filed with the U.S. food and drug administration. Acidified foods shall be thermally processed to an extent that is sufficient to destroy the vegetative cells of microorganisms of public health significance and those of no health significance capable of reproducing in the food under the conditions in which the food is stored, distributed, retailed and held by the user. In lieu of thermal processing, approved preservatives may be used to inhibit reproduction of microorganisms of no health significance.
(2) Sufficient control, including frequent testing and recording of results, shall be exercised so that the finished equilibrium pH values for acidified foods are not higher than 4.6. If the finished equilibrium pH of the food is above 4.0, the measurement of the finished equilibrium pH shall be by a potentiometric method, and the in-process measurements by titration or colorimetry shall be related to the finished equilibrium pH. If the finished equilibrium pH is 4.0 or below, then the measurement of acidity of the final product may be made by any suitable method.
(3) Procedures for acidification to attain acceptable equilibrium pH levels in the final food include, but are not limited to, the following:
(a) Blanching of the food ingredients in acidified aqueous solutions.
(b) Immersion of the blanched food in acid solutions provided the acid concentration is properly maintained.
(c) Direct batch acidification, which can be achieved by adding a known amount of an acid solution to a specified amount of food during acidification.
(d) Direct addition of a predetermined amount of acid to individual containers during production provided care is taken to ensure that the proper amount of acid is added to each container.
(e) Addition of acid foods to low-acid foods in controlled proportions to conform to specific formulations.
(4) Testing and examinations of containers shall occur often enough to ensure that the container suitably protects the food from leakage or contamination.
(B) Coding.
(1) Each container or product shall be marked with an identifying code permanently visible to the naked eye.
(2) The required identification shall specify in code the establishment where the product was packed, the product contained therein, and the year, day, and period during which it was packed.
(3) The packing period code shall be changed often enough to enable ready identification of lots during their sale and distribution. Codes may be changed periodically on one of the following bases:
(a) Intervals of four to five hours;
(b) Personnel shift changes; or
(c) Batches, as long as the containers constituting the batch do not represent those processed during more than one personnel shift.
Last updated October 7, 2024 at 11:47 AM
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