Issue View | Council III | 2020 Biennial Meeting

This issue was submitted for consideration at a previous biennial meeting, see issue: 2010 III-015 ; new or additional information has been included or attached .

Temperature of Water for Handwashing Sinks

Remove from the current published version of the 2017 Food Code Section 5-202.12(A) the requirement that a hand sink must deliver running water at a specific measured temperature and replacing the temperature to require warm water be provided.

Safe food production is dependent on food production workers frequently washing their hands by following the hand cleaning procedure outlined in Section 2-301.12.

Harmonizing the language between 2-301.12 and 5-202.12(A) will help eliminate misinterpretation by many industry partners who try to comply with the food code by requiring employees to wash their hands using the minimum temperature specified in 5-202.12(A).

Additionally, a large percentage of hand sinks are installed in kitchens and restrooms with touch-free faucets. The water is pre-mixed to provide warm and comfortable water for hand washing. The use of touch-free faucets makes it difficult, without assistance of a plumber, for industry to periodically check the temperature of the hot water source at the hand sinks to monitor their compliance with 5-202.12(A).

An October 1, 2015 letter from the FDA titled "Handwashing water temperature" and published to the FDA Food Code Reference System clarifies that "...the FDA Food Code does not specify that hands are to be washed using water at a specific temperature..."

Public health is better protected by following the procedure outlined in 2-301.12 and hands are rinsed using warm, comfortable water as referenced in the attached October 1, 2015 FDA letter.

...that a letter be sent to the FDA recommending a change to the most current version of the 2017 Food Code section 5-202.12 Handwashing Sink, Installation (A) to read as follows: (new language is underlined; language to be removed is in strikethrough format):

(A) A HANDWASHING SINK shall be equipped to provide warm water at a temperature of at least 38^oC (100^oF) through a mixing valve or combination faucet. ^Pf