SECTION 310:257-5-23. Packaged and unpackaged food-separation, packaging, and segregation

(a)   Food shall be protected from cross contamination by:

(1)   Except as specified in (c) of this Section, 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; and

(B)   Cooked 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; or

(B)   Arranging each type of food in equipment so that cross contamination of one type with another is prevented; and

(C)   Preparing each type of food at different times or in separate areas;

(3)   Cleaning equipment and utensils as specified under OAC 310:257-7-83(a) and sanitizing as specified under OAC 310:257-7-95;

(4)   Except as specified in (b) of this Section, 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 OAC 310:257-11-38; and

(8)   Separating fruits and vegetables, before they are washed as specified under OAC 310:257-5-27 from ready-to-eat food.

(b)   Paragraph (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 OAC 310:257-5-58(b)(2); or

(5)   Shellstock.

(c)   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.

[Source: Added at 23 Ok Reg 2358, eff 6-25-06; Amended at 28 Ok Reg 2289, eff 11-1-11; Amended at 33 Ok Reg 1520, eff 9-11-16]