Article 1. Materials for Construction and Repair
12VAC5-421-960. Multiuse, characteristics.
Article 1
Materials for Construction and Repair
Materials that are used in the construction of utensils and food-contact surfaces of equipment shall not allow the migration of deleterious substances or impart colors, odors, or tastes to food and under normal use conditions shall be:P
1. Safe;P
2. Durable, corrosion-resistant, and nonabsorbent;
3. Sufficient in weight and thickness to withstand repeated warewashing;
4. Finished to have a smooth, easily cleanable surface; and
5. Resistant to pitting, chipping, crazing, scratching, scoring, distortion, and decomposition.
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 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
12VAC5-421-970. Cast iron, use limitation.
A. Except as specified in subsections B and C of this section, cast iron shall not be used for utensils or food-contact surfaces of equipment.
B. Cast iron may be used as a surface for cooking.
C. Cast iron may be used in utensils for serving food if the utensils are used only as part of an uninterrupted process from cooking through service.
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 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007.
12VAC5-421-980. Lead, use limitation.
A. Ceramic, china, crystal utensils, and decorative utensils such as hand-painted ceramic or china that are used in contact with food shall be lead-free or contain levels of lead not exceeding the limits of the following utensil categories:P
| Utensil Category | Ceramic Article Description | Maximum Lead |
| Beverage Mugs, Cups, Pitchers | Coffee Mugs | 0.5 |
| Large Hollowware | Bowls > 1.1 Liter | 1.0 |
| Small Hollowware | Bowls <1.1 Liter | 2.0 |
| Flat tableware | Plates, Saucers | 3.0 |
B. Pewter alloys containing lead in excess of 0.05% may not be used as a food contact surface.P
C. Solder and flux containing lead in excess of 0.2% may not be used as a food contact surface.
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 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
12VAC5-421-990. Copper, use limitation.
A. Except as specified in subsections B and C of this section, copper and copper alloys such as brass shall not be used in contact with a food that has a pH below 6 such as vinegar, fruit juice, or wine or for a fitting or tubing installed between a backflow prevention device and a carbonator.P
B. Copper and copper alloys may be used in contact with beer brewing ingredients that have a pH below 6 in the prefermentation and fermentation steps of a beer brewing operation such as a brewpub or microbrewery.
C. Copper and copper alloys may be used in contact with apple butter and molasses that have a pH below 6 during the typical processing times (i.e., mixing, cooking, and cooling) for these products, as long as laboratory analysis does not reveal excessive levels of copper or other heavy metals in the finished product. Apple butter and molasses may not be held or stored in copper or copper alloys for time periods any longer than the typical processing times for these products.
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 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
12VAC5-421-1000. Galvanized metal, use limitation.
Galvanized metal shall not be used for utensils or food-contact surfaces of equipment that are used in contact with acidic food.P
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 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
12VAC5-421-1010. Sponges, use limitation.
Sponges shall not be used in contact with cleaned and sanitized or in-use food-contact surfaces.
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 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007.
12VAC5-421-1020. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; repealed, Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010.
12VAC5-421-1030. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 18, Issue 10, eff. March 1, 2002; amended, Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; repealed, Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010.
12VAC5-421-1040. Wood, use limitation.
A. Except as specified in subsections B, C, and D of this section, wood and wood wicker shall not be used as a food-contact surface.
B. Hard maple or an equivalently hard, close-grained wood may be used for:
1. Cutting boards; cutting blocks; bakers' tables; and utensils such as rolling pins, doughnut dowels, salad bowls, and chopsticks; and
2. Wooden paddles used in confectionery operations for pressure scraping kettles when manually preparing confections at a temperature of 230°F (110°C) or above.
C. Whole, uncut, raw fruits and vegetables, and nuts in the shell may be kept in the wood shipping containers in which they were received, until the fruits, vegetables, or nuts are used.
D. If the nature of the food requires removal of rinds, peels, husks, or shells before consumption, the whole, uncut, raw food may be kept in:
1. Untreated wood containers; or
2. Treated wood containers if the containers are treated with a preservative that meets the requirements specified in 21 CFR 178.3800.
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 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007.
12VAC5-421-1050. Nonstick coatings, use limitation.
Multiuse kitchenware such as frying pans, griddles, sauce pans, cookie sheets, and waffle bakers that have a perfluorocarbon resin coating shall be used with nonscoring or nonscratching utensils and cleaning aids.
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.
12VAC5-421-1060. Nonfood-contact surfaces.
Nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment that are exposed to splash, spillage, or other food soiling or that require frequent cleaning shall be constructed of a corrosion-resistant, nonabsorbent, and smooth material.
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.
12VAC5-421-1070. Single-service and single-use, characteristics.
A. Materials that are used to make single-service and single-use articles shall not:
1. Allow the migration of deleterious substances;P or
2. Impart colors, odors, or tastes to food.
B. Materials that are used to make single-service and single-use articles shall be:
1. Safe,P and
2. Clean.
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 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.