Issue View | Council III | 2016 Biennial Meeting
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Issue Number: Council III 028
Issue History
This is a brand new Issue.
Title
Ambient Cooling Pre-chilled TCS Foods
Issue you would like the Conference to consider
Clarify the 2013 FDA Food Code that ambient cooling also applies to pre-chilled Time Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) food that has risen above 41°F during preparation at ambient temperature.
Public Health Significance
Section 3-501.14 Annex 3 of the 2013 FDA Food Code states safe cooling requires removing heat from food quickly enough to prevent microbial growth. Excessive time for cooling of time/temperature control for safety foods has been consistently identified as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness. During slow cooling, time/temperature control for safety foods are subject to the growth of a variety of pathogenic microorganisms.
Recommended Solution: The Conference recommends...
a letter be sent to the FDA requesting the 2013 Food Code be amended as follows (language to be added is underlined; language to be deleted is in strikethrough format)
Section 3-501.14
(A) Cooked TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD shall be cooled:
(1) Within 2 hours from 57ºC (135ºF) to 21ºC (70°F); P and
(2) Within a total of 6 hours from 57ºC (135ºF) to 5ºC (41°F) or less. P
(B) TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD shall be cooled within 4 hours to 5oC (41oF) or less if prepared from ingredients at ambient temperature, such as reconstituted FOODS and canned tuna. P
(C) Pre-chilled TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD that rises above 5oC (41oF) during preparation at ambient temperature, such as sliced deli meats and prepared sandwiches, shall be cooled within 4 hours to 5oC (41oF) or less.
(C) (D) Except as specified under ¶ (D) (E) of this section, a TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD received in compliance with LAWS allowing a temperature above 5oC (41oF) during shipment from the supplier as specified in ¶ 3-202.11(B), shall be cooled within 4 hours to 5oC (41oF) or less. P
(D) (E) Raw EGGS shall be received as specified under ¶ 3-202.11(C) and immediately placed in refrigerated EQUIPMENT that maintains an ambient air temperature of 7oC (45oF) or less. P
Submitter Information 1
| Name | Ann Johnson |
| Organization | FL Department of Agriculture |
| Address |
3236 Sardenia Terrace
Deltona, FL 32738 |
| Telephone | 407-335-3497 |
| anna.johnson@freshfromflorida.com |
Submitter Information 2
| Name | Joetta DeFrancesco |
| Organization | FL Department of Agriculture |
| Address |
10281 Enoch Lane
Bonita Springs, FL 34135 |
| Telephone | 239-206-0260 |
| joetta.defrancesco@freshfromflorida.com |
