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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 12. Health
Agency 5. Department of Health
Chapter 421. Food Regulations
12/30/2024

12VAC5-421-470. Packaged and unpackaged food - separation, packaging, and segregation.

A. Food shall be protected from cross contamination by:

1. Except as specified in subdivision 1 d of this subsection, separating raw animal foods during storage, preparation, holding, and display from:

a. Raw ready-to-eat food including other raw animal food such as fish for sushi or molluscan shellfish, or other raw ready-to-eat food such as fruits and vegetables;P

b. Cooked ready-to-eat food;P

c. Fruits and vegetables before they are washed;P and

d. Frozen, commercially processed, and packaged raw animal food may be stored or displayed with or above frozen, commercially processed and packaged, ready-to-eat food;

2. Except when combined as ingredients, separating types of raw animal foods from each other such as beef, fish, lamb, pork, and poultry during storage, preparation, holding, and display by:

a. Using separate equipment for each type;P or

b. Arranging each type of food in equipment so that cross contamination of one type with another is prevented;P and

c. Preparing each type of food at different times or in separate areas.P

3. Cleaning equipment and utensils as specified under 12VAC5-421-1780 A and sanitizing as specified under 12VAC5-421-1900;

4. Except as specified in subsection B of this section and 12VAC5-421-810 B 2, storing the food in packages, covered containers, or wrappings;

5. Cleaning hermetically sealed containers of food of visible soil before opening;

6. Protecting food containers that are received packaged together in a case or overwrap from cuts when the case or overwrap is opened;

7. Storing damaged, spoiled, or recalled food being held in the food establishment as specified under 12VAC5-421-3150; and

8. Separating fruits and vegetables, before they are washed as specified under 12VAC5-421-510 from ready-to-eat food.

B. Subdivision A 4 of this section does not apply to:

1. Whole, uncut, raw fruits and vegetables and nuts in the shell that require peeling or hulling before consumption;

2. Primal cuts, quarters, or sides of raw meat or slab bacon that are hung on clean, sanitized hooks or placed on clean, sanitized racks;

3. Whole, uncut, processed meats such as country hams, and smoked or cured sausages that are placed on clean, sanitized racks;

4. Food being cooled as specified under 12VAC5-421-810 B 2; or

5. Shellstock.

Statutory Authority

§§ 35.1-11 and 35.1-14 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 18, eff. June 10, 2021.

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