15a ncac 18a .3629      cleaning of equipment and utensils

(a)  All equipment and fixtures shall be kept clean in resident camps. All cloths used by chefs and other employees in the kitchen shall be clean.

(b)  All multi-use eating and drinking utensils shall be washed, rinsed and subjected to a bactericidal treatment after each usage as specified in Paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(c)  In a hand dishwashing operation, after cleaning and rinsing, all multi-use eating and drinking utensils shall be subjected to one of the following or other equivalent bactericidal processes:

(1)           Immersion for at least one minute in the third compartment in clean hot water at a temperature of at least 170 degrees F (77 degrees C). A thermometer accurate to 2 degrees F (1 degrees C) shall be available and convenient to the compartment. Where hot water is used for bactericidal treatment, a booster heater that maintains a water temperature of at least 170 degrees F (77 degrees C) in the third compartment at all times when utensils are being washed shall be used. The heating device may be integral with the immersion compartment.

(2)           Immersion for at least two minutes in the third compartment in a chemical bactericide of strength:

(A)          for chlorine products, a solution containing at least 50 parts per million of available chlorine at a temperature of at least 75 degrees F (24 degrees C);

(B)          for iodophor products, a solution containing at least 12.5 parts per million of available iodine and having a pH not higher than 5.0 and having a temperature of at least 75 degrees F (24 degrees C); or

(C)          for quaternary ammonium products, a solution containing at least 200 parts per million of QAC and having a temperature of at least 75 degrees F (24 degrees C), provided that the product is labeled to show that it is effective in water having a hardness value at least equal to that of the water being used.

(3)           Other equivalent products and procedures approved in 21 CFR 178.1010 "Sanitizing Solutions" from the "Food Service Sanitation Manual" which is hereby incorporated by reference including subsequent amendments, published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

(d)  A testing method or equipment shall be available, convenient and regularly used to test chemical sanitizers to ensure minimum prescribed strengths.

(e)  The supply of eating and drinking utensils shall be of sufficient quantity to allow washing, rinsing, sanitizing and air-drying before reuse. All multi-use utensils except pizza pans and similar type pans (not used for table service) used in the storage, preparation, cooking or serving of food or drink shall be cleaned and rinsed immediately after the day's operations, after each use or upon completion of each meal as indicated. Pizza pans and similar type pans (not used for table service) that are continually subjected to high temperatures do not require cleaning after each use, or day's use but shall be kept clean and maintained in good repair.

(f)  In addition to washing and rinsing multi-use utensils as indicated in Paragraph (c) of this Rule, preparation surfaces which come in contact with potentially hazardous foods and are not subjected to heat during routine cooking operations shall be sanitized. Utensils and equipment that have been used for the preparation of raw meat or raw poultry shall not be used for the preparation of cooked meat, cooked poultry or other ready-to-eat products unless such utensils and equipment have been cleaned and sanitized. Examples of food contact surfaces that must be sanitized are utensils used in preparing cold salads and cold beverages, cutting boards, table tops, knives, saws and slicers. For utensils and equipment that are either too large or impractical to sanitize in a dishwashing machine or dishwashing sink, and for those resident camps that do not have dishwashing equipment, a spray-on or wipe-on sanitizer may be used. When spray-on or wipe-on sanitizers are used, the chemical strengths shall be those required for sanitizing multi-use eating and drinking utensils.

(g)  Hand dishwashing facilities shall consist of an approved three-compartment sink of sufficient size and depth to submerge, wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and shall have splash back protection and drain boards that are an integral part of and continuous with the sink. These drain boards shall be of a sufficient size to accommodate the drainage of liquids of the washed utensils after being sanitized. Air-drying of utensils may be accomplished with the use of a drain board, overhead or wall mounted shelves, or with the use of stationary or portable racks or by cross stacking.

(h)  Where the Department determines that the volume of dishes, glasses and utensils to be washed cannot be processed in a single warewashing facility, separate dish, glass or utensil washing facilities shall be required. Separate vegetable washing facilities shall be provided in resident camps which wash raw vegetables except where plan review shows that volume and preparation frequency do not require separate vegetable washing facilities or where vegetables are purchased pre-washed and packaged. Resident camps which scale, eviscerate, thaw or wash fish, raw poultry or other food shall provide separate sinks with preparation space for these processes except where plan review shows that volume and preparation frequency do not require separate washing facilities.

(i)  When warewashing machines are used, the machine and its auxiliary components shall be operated in accordance with the machine's data plate and other manufacturer's instructions. Machines shall be fitted with drain boards on each side, and a countersunk sink or a sink with a faucet, spray nozzle or brushes for pre-cleaning, pre-flushing or pre-soaking of the utensils in the dirty dish lane. Thermometers indicating the wash and rinse water temperatures shall be provided and kept in good repair.

(j)  When warewashing machines are used, the machines shall be approved as sufficient for size, capacity and type for the number of utensils to be washed. Glasses may be washed with power-driven brushes and passed through door-type machines, which are also used for dishwashing, for final rinse and bacterial treatment. For this method, a motor-driven glass-washer and a single-vat sink shall suffice.

(k)  Warewashing machines shall render equipment clean to sight and touch and provide bactericidal treatment in accordance with Paragraph (c) of this Rule.

(l)  When only single-service eating and drinking utensils are used, at least an approved two-compartment sink shall be provided. This sink shall be of sufficient size to submerge, wash, rinse and sanitize utensils and shall have splash back protection and drain boards that are an integral part of and continuous with the sink. These drain boards shall be of sufficient size to accommodate the drainage of liquids of the washed utensils after being sanitized. Air drying of utensils may be accomplished with the use of a drain board, overhead or wall mounted shelf or with the use of stationary or portable racks.

(m)  Facilities for the heating of water shall be provided. Capacity of hot water heating facilities shall be based on number and size of sinks, capacity of dishwashing machines and other food service and cleaning needs. Hot water storage tanks shall provide a minimum of 130 degree F (54 degree C) hot water when water is not used for sanitizing; when hot water is used for sanitizing, a minimum storage temperature of 140 degree F (60 degrees C) hot water is required.

(n)  No article, polish or other substance containing any cyanide preparation or other poisonous material shall be used for the cleaning or polishing of eating or cooking utensils.

(o)  In determining the sufficiency of the size of drain boards, machine dishwashers and sinks in a resident camp, the environmental health specialist shall consider the number and size of multi-use utensils regularly cleaned. For drain boards only, the specialist shall also consider the available shelf space, racks and other areas that may be used for air-drying.

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.