Food separated & protected
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Box with raw beef shaved steak was observed stored next to ready-to-eat foods (a package of sliced cheese) inside the cold holding box. The person in charge stored the raw beef separately from the cheese. 46.281 - Preventing Contamination of Packaged and Unpackaged Food: Separation, Packaging & Segregation (a) Required protective measures. Food shall be protected from cross contamination by the following procedures, as applicable: (1) Separating raw animal-derived foods during storage, preparation, holding and display from: (i) Raw ready-to-eat food including other raw animal-derived food such as fish for sushi or molluscan shellfish, or other raw ready-to-eat food such as vegetables. (ii) Cooked ready-to-eat food. (2) Separating types of raw animal-derived foods (such as beef, fish, lamb, pork and poultry) from each other during storage, preparation, holding and display, except when these raw animal-derived foods are combined as ingredients, by doing the following: (i) Using separate equipment for each type or arranging each type of food in equipment so that cross contamination of one type with another is prevented. (ii) Preparing each type of food at different times or in separate areas. (3) Cleaning equipment and utensils as specified in § 46.712(a) (relating to frequency of cleaning equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils) and sanitizing as specified in § 46.731(c) (relating to sanitization: requirement, frequency and methods). (4) Storing the food in packages, covered containers or wrappings. The exception to this requirement is in subsection (b). (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 facility as specified in § 46.964 (relating to distressed merchandise: segregated). (8) Separating fruits and vegetables from ready-to-eat food before the fruits and vegetables are washed as specified in § 46.285 (relating to washing raw fruits and vegetables). (b) Exception to the requirement of storing foods in packages, covered containers or wrappings. Subsection (a)(4) does not apply to the following: (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 in § 46.384(d)(2) (relating to potentially hazardous food: cooling). (5) Shellstock.
46.281