15A NCAC 18A .3619      field sanitation

Resident camps may conduct cookouts, overnight trips or similar primitive camping activities provided field sanitation standards are maintained in accordance with the provisions of the rules of this Section. Written procedures regarding field sanitation standards shall be posted or made readily available for inspection by the Department. The resident camp shall ensure the approved procedures are being practiced, utilized and maintained. Field sanitation requirements for resident camps are as follows:

(1)           Off-Site Food: Storage, Preparation and Cooking shall meet the following requirements:

(a)           Temperature control, food preparation and food protection methods shall be implemented to ensure all potentially hazardous foods stored and prepared for off-site cooking maintain temperatures of 45 degrees F (7 degrees C) or less or 135 degrees F (57 degrees C) or higher and are protected from contamination. Written procedures describing the specific off-site cooking activity and the proposed temperature control methods shall be submitted to the Department for approval. Any proposed changes to current procedures shall be submitted to the Department for approval. Specific approvals shall remain valid so long as the activity remains part of the camp program unless the Department determines that procedures are not being maintained in accordance with the approval. Where potentially hazardous foods are prepared off-site, written procedures shall also include methods to prevent cross contamination. For the purpose of off-site food storage, coolers with ice or ice packs are an approved method of temperature control. Off-site potentially hazardous foods once cooked shall be consumed within two hours or discarded. Poultry stuffings, stuffed meats and stuffings containing meat shall not be used.

(b)           Potentially hazardous foods shall be thawed as follows:

(i)            in cold holding units at a temperature not to exceed 45 degrees F (7 degrees C);

(ii)           under potable running water of a temperature of 70 degrees F (21 degrees C), or below, with sufficient water velocity to agitate and float off loose food particles into the overflow; or

(iii)          as a part of the cooking process.

(c)           Potentially hazardous foods requiring cooking shall be cooked to heat all parts of the food to a temperature of at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C) except as follows:

(i)            poultry shall be cooked to at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C) with no interruption of the cooking process;

(ii)           pork and any food containing pork shall be cooked to heat all parts of the food to at least 150 degrees F (66 degrees C);

(iii)          ground meat food products shall be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 155 degrees F (68 degrees C);

(iv)          roast beef shall be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 130 degrees F (54 degrees C); and

(v)           beef steak shall be cooked to a temperature of 130 degrees F (54 degrees C) unless otherwise ordered by the immediate consumer.

(d)           Liquid eggs, uncooked frozen dry eggs and egg products shall be cooked before consumption. This Sub-item does not apply to pasteurized products.

(e)           A metal stem-type food thermometer accurate to 2 degrees F (1 degree C) shall be available to check potentially hazardous food temperatures.

(2)           Off-Site Drinking Water shall meet the following requirements:

(a)           Water transported for off-site drinking shall be from an approved source and shall be transported and stored in clean, sanitized containers designated solely for this purpose. Where it is not practical to transport drinking water for off-site activities, treatment measures shall be provided to ensure that drinking water is free from disease causing organisms.

(b)           Water shall be taken from free-flowing streams, springs and wells if available. Water may be taken from still sources when free-flowing sources are unavailable. Water shall be visibly clear and free from debris, trash and organic matter.

(3)           Treatment of Off-Site Drinking Water shall meet the following requirements:

(a)           Water shall be brought to a rolling boil for a minimum of one minute; or

(b)           Water shall be filtered to remove cysts and viruses by using a filtration system with an absolute pore size of one micron or smaller, and treated with:

(i)            A minimum of 2 parts per million of free chlorine residual maintained for a minimum of 30 minutes; or

(ii)           A minimum of 5 drops of 2 percent tincture of iodine per liter of water. For commercially prepared tablets, manufacturer's directions shall be followed; or

(c)           Alternate methods of treatment capable of removing bacteria, viruses, cysts and parasites if approved by the Department. Documentation that demonstrates the method is equivalent to SubItem (3)(a) or (b) of this Rule shall be submitted by the owner or operator for approval.

(4)           Utensils and Equipment shall meet the following requirements:

(a)           All eating, drinking and cooking utensils, and other items used in connection with the preparation of food shall be kept clean and in good repair.

(b)           All surfaces intended for multi-use between campers or staff with which food or drink comes in contact shall consist of smooth, not readily corrodible, non-toxic materials in which there are no open cracks or joints that will collect food particles or slime and be kept clean.

(c)           Multi-use drinking and eating utensils which do not meet all the construction provisions of SubItem (4)(b) of this Rule shall be used by only one individual, constructed of not readily corrodible, non-toxic materials, and shall not be reassigned to or reused by another individual.

(d)           Where multi-use eating utensils are used, they shall be assigned to one individual and not shared until cleaned and sanitized by approved methods.

(5)           Cleaning of Utensils and Equipment shall meet the following requirements:

(a)           Utensils and equipment shall be kept clean.

(b)           Water used for cleaning shall meet the requirements of Items (2) and (3) of this Rule.

(c)           Where an approved sanitizing process cannot be implemented, each individual's multi-use utensils shall be cleaned separately to prevent cross-contamination.

(d)           Multi-use utensils not assigned for individual use may be cleaned together provided they are washed, rinsed and sanitized by approved methods.

(6)           Handwashing for food preparers shall be in compliance with Rule .3620(b) of this Section. Facilities shall be provided for employees' handwashing; these may consist of a pan, potable water, soap and single-use towels. Hair restraints are not required for field sanitation employees.

(7)           Toxic materials shall be labeled and stored to prevent contamination of food, equipment and utensils.

(8)           Where permanent human waste disposal facilities which meet the requirements of 15A NCAC 18A .1900 are not provided at an off-site activity, written procedures for waste disposal shall be provided to and approved by the Department. Disposal of human waste shall be in a hole that is at least six inches deep and has a diameter of at least four inches located at least 200 feet from any surface water. After use, the hole shall be back filled with soil to a depth of six inches.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 130A-235; 130A-248;

Eff. October 1, 2007;

Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. July 20, 2019.