603-029-2645 Finished Product Inspection (1) Finished product inspections must be handled according to: (a) An HACCP plan for canned product that addresses hazards associated with microbiological contamination; (b) Alternative documented procedures that will ensure that only safe and stable product is shipped in commerce; or (c) Section (2) of this rule. (2) Procedures for handling finished product inspections where the HACCP plan for thermally processed/commercially sterile product does not address food safety hazards associated with microbial contamination or where the state-inspected establishment has no alternative documented procedures for handling process deviations. (a) Incubation of shelf stable canned product (A) Incubator. The state-inspected establishment must provide incubation facilities which include an accurate temperature/time recording device, an indicating temperature device, a means for the circulation of the air inside the incubator to prevent temperature variations, and a means to prevent unauthorized entry into the facility. The Department is responsible for the security of the incubator. (B) Incubation temperature. The incubation temperature must be maintained at 95±5 °F (35±2.8 °C). If the incubation temperature falls below 90 °F (or 32 °C) or exceeds 100 °F (or 38 °C) but does not reach 103 °F (or 39.5 °C), the incubation temperature must be adjusted within the required range and the incubation time extended for the time the sample containers were held at the deviant temperature. If the incubation temperature is at or above 103 °F (or 39.5 °C) for more than 2 hours, the incubation test(s) must be terminated, the temperature lowered to within the required range, and new sample containers incubated for the required time. (C) Product requiring incubation. Shelf stable product requiring incubation includes: (i) Low acid products as defined in OAR 603-029-2600; and (ii) Acidified low acid products as defined in OAR 603-029-2600. (D) Incubation samples. (A) From each load of product processed in a batch-type thermal processing system (still or agitation), the state-inspected establishment must select at least one container for incubation. (i) From each load of product processed in a batch-type thermal processing system (still or agitation), the establishment must select at least one container for incubation. (ii) For continuous rotary retorts, hydrostatic retorts, or other continuous-type thermal processing systems, the state-inspected establishment must select at least one container per 1,000 for incubation. (iii) Only normal-appearing containers must be selected for incubation. (E) Incubation time. Canned product requiring incubation must be incubated for not less than 10 days (240 hours) under the conditions specified in paragraph (2)(a)(B) of this section. (F) Incubation checks and record maintenance. Designated state-inspected establishment employees must visually check all containers under incubation each working day and the inspector must be notified when abnormal containers are detected. All abnormal containers should be allowed to cool before a final decision on their condition is made. For each incubation test the establishment must record at least the product name, container size, container code, number of containers incubated, in and out dates, and incubation results. The state-inspected establishment must retain such records, along with copies of the temperature/time recording charts, in accordance with OAR 603-029-2635(4). (G) Abnormal containers. The finding of abnormal containers (as defined in OAR 603-029-2600) among incubation samples is cause to officially retain at least the code lot involved. (H) Shipping. No product must be shipped from the state-inspected establishment before the end of the required incubation period. A state-inspected establishment wishing to ship product prior to the completion of the required incubation period must submit a written proposal to the Department. Such a proposal must include provisions that will assure that shipped product will not reach the retail level of distribution before sample incubation is completed and that product can be returned promptly to the state-inspected establishment should such action be deemed necessary by the incubation test results. Upon receipt of written approval from the Department, product may be routinely shipped provided the state-inspected establishment continues to comply with all requirements of OAR 603-029-2600 to 603-029-2655. (3) Container condition (a) Normal containers. Only normal-appearing containers must be shipped from a state-inspected establishment as determined by an appropriate sampling plan or other means acceptable to the Department. (b) Abnormal containers. When abnormal containers are detected by any means other than incubation, the state-inspected establishment must inform the inspector, and the affected code lot(s) must not be shipped until the Department has determined that the product is safe and stable. Such a determination will take into account the cause and level of abnormals in the affected lot(s) as well as any product disposition actions either taken or proposed by the establishment. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 603.085, ORS 619.042 & ORS 619.046 Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 619.042, ORS 619.046, ORS 603.055, ORS 619.026 & ORS 619.036 History: DOA 19-2022, adopt filed 07/27/2022, effective 07/28/2022