1901 FREQUENCY – EQUIPMENT, FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES, AND UTENSILS

1901.1 Equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils shall be cleaned:

1. (a) Before each use with a different type of raw animal food such as beef, fish, lamb, pork, or poultry, except as specified in § 1901.2; P
2. (b) Each time there is a change from working with raw foods to working with ready-to-eat foods; P
3. (c) Between uses with raw fruits and vegetables and with potentially hazardous food (time/temperature control for safety food); P
4. (d) Before using or storing a food temperature measuring device; P and
5. (e) At any time during the operation when contamination may have occurred. P

1901.2 Subsection 1901.1(a) does not apply if the food contact surface or utensil is in contact with a succession of different raw animal foods each requiring a higher cooking temperature as specified in § 900 than the previous food, such as preparing raw fish followed by cutting raw poultry on the same cutting board.

1901.3 If used with potentially hazardous food (time/temperature control for safety food), equipment, food-contact surfaces and utensils shall be cleaned throughout the day at least every four (4) hours, except as specified in § 1901.4. P

1901.4 Surfaces of utensils and equipment contacting potentially hazardous food (time/temperature control for safety food) may be cleaned less frequently than every four (4) hours if:

1. (a) In storage, containers of potentially hazardous food (time/temperature control for safety food) and their contents are maintained at temperatures specified in Chapters 6 through 13 and the containers are cleaned when they are empty;
2. (b) Utensils and equipment are used to prepare food in a refrigerated room or area that is maintained at one of the temperatures in the following chart, the utensils and equipment are cleaned at the frequency in the following chart that corresponds to the temperature, and the cleaning frequency based on the ambient temperature of the refrigerated room or area is documented in the food establishment:

Temperature	Cleaning Frequency
5.0°C (41°F) or less	24 hours
>5.0°C - 7.2°C (>41°F - 45°F)	20 hours
>7.2°C - 10.0°C (>45°F - 50°F)	16 hours
>10.0°C - 12.8°C (>50°F - 55°F)	10 hours

(c) Containers in serving situations such as salad bars, delis, and cafeteria lines hold ready-to-eat potentially hazardous food (time/temperature control for safety food) that is maintained at the temperatures specified in Chapters 6 through 13 are intermittently combined with additional supplies of the same food that is at the required temperature, and the containers are cleaned at least every twenty-four (24) hours;

(d) Temperature measuring devices are maintained in contact with food, such as when left in a container of deli food or in a roast, held at temperatures specified in Chapters 6 through 13;

(e) Equipment is used for storage of packaged or unpackaged food such as a reach-in refrigerator and the equipment is cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues;

(f) The cleaning schedule is approved based on consideration of:

1. (1) Characteristics of the equipment and its use;

2. (2) The type of food involved;

3. (3) The amount of food residue accumulation; and

4. (4) The temperature at which the food is maintained during the operation, and the potential for the rapid and progressive multiplication of pathogenic or toxigenic microorganisms that are capable of causing foodborne disease; and

(g) In-use utensils are intermittently stored in a container of water in which the water is maintained at fifty-seven degrees Celsius (57° C) (one hundred and thirty-five degrees Fahrenheit (135° F)) or more and the utensils and

container are cleaned at least every twenty-four (24) hours or at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues.

1901.5

Except when dry cleaning methods are used as specified in § 1904, surfaces of utensils and equipment in contact with food that is not potentially hazardous (time/temperature control for safety food) shall be cleaned:

(a) At any time when contamination may have occurred;

(b) At least every twenty-four (24) hours for iced tea dispensers and consumer self-service utensils such as tongs, scoops, or ladles;

(c) Before restocking consumer self-service equipment and utensils such as condiment dispensers and display containers; and

(d) In equipment such as ice bins and beverage dispensing nozzles and enclosed components of equipment such as ice makers, cooking oil storage tanks and distribution lines, beverage and syrup dispensing lines or tubes, coffee bean grinders, and water vending equipment:

(1) At a frequency specified by the manufacturer; or

(2) Absent manufacturer specifications, at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil or mold.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 4394 (June 6, 2003); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 13690 (November 30, 2012).