2023 Indiana Code › Title 15. Agriculture and Animals › Article 18. Dairy Products › Chapter 1. Milk and Milk Products; Permits; Standards; Inspections › 15-18-1-13. Samples; Testing and Examination; Written Notice Upon Exceeding Standards

Sec. 13. (a) Samples of raw and processed milk and milk products must be collected as required under this section and rules adopted by the board as follows:
(1) A bulk milk hauler/sampler shall collect a representative sample of the milk from each farm tank before collecting the milk for delivery. Each sample must be labeled so as to identify the farm of origin. Each sample must be delivered to a milk plant, receiving station, transfer station, or other location approved by the board.
(2) During any consecutive six (6) months, at least four (4) samples of raw milk for pasteurization must be collected from each milk producer. The samples must be taken in separate months. However, not more than once in a three (3) month period the samples may be collected twice in the same month if the samples are taken at least twenty (20) days apart.
(3) During any consecutive six (6) months, at least four (4) samples of raw milk for pasteurization must be collected from each milk plant, after receipt of the milk by the milk plant and before pasteurization. The samples taken from the plant must be taken in separate months. However, not more than once in a three (3) month period the samples may be collected twice in the same month if the samples are taken at least twenty (20) days apart.
(4) During any consecutive six (6) months, at least four (4) samples of pasteurized milk, heat treated milk, and at least four (4) samples of milk products and Grade A dry milk products must be taken from every milk plant. The samples taken from the plant must be taken in separate months. However, not more than once in a three (3) month period the samples may be collected twice in the same month if the samples are taken at least twenty (20) days apart.
Samples of milk and milk products must be taken while in possession of the producer or distributor at any time before final delivery. Samples of milk and milk products from dairy retail stores, food service establishments, grocery stores, and other places where milk and milk products are sold must be examined periodically as determined by the board, and the results of the examination must be used to determine compliance with this chapter. Proprietors of such establishments must furnish the board, upon the board's request, with the names of all distributors from whom milk or milk products are obtained.
(b) Bacterial counts, somatic cell counts, and cooling temperature checks must be performed on raw milk for pasteurization as required by the board.
(c) In addition, antibiotic tests on milk from each producer's farm must be conducted at least four (4) times during any consecutive six (6) months. The samples taken from the farm must be taken in separate months. However, not more than once in a three (3) month period the samples may be collected twice in the same month if the samples are taken at least twenty (20) days apart. Antibiotic testing of commingled milk from bulk milk vehicles must be conducted as specified by the United States Food and Drug Administration or the board. When commingled milk is tested, all producers must be represented in the sample. All individual sources of milk must be tested when test results on the commingled milk are positive. The milk plant, receiving station, or transfer station shall conduct or have conducted all tests required by the board on milk producer raw milk sample laboratory analyses and forward the results of the analyses to the board.
(d) Bacterial counts, coliform determinations, phosphatase, and cooling temperature checks must be performed on pasteurized milk and milk products as required by rules adopted by the board.
(e) Whenever two (2) of the last four (4) consecutive bacteria counts, somatic cell counts, coliform determinations, or cooling temperatures taken on separate days exceed the limit of the standard for milk or milk products, the board shall send a written notice to the person concerned. This notice remains in effect as long as two (2) of the last four (4) consecutive samples exceed the limit of the standard. An additional sample must be taken not later than twenty-one (21) days after sending the notice, but not before the lapse of three (3) days. Immediate suspension of a permit or court action, or both, shall be instituted whenever the standard is violated by three (3) of the last five (5) bacteria counts, somatic cell counts, coliform determinations, or cooling temperatures.
(f) Whenever a phosphatase test is positive, the cause must be determined. If the cause is improper pasteurization, the problem must be corrected, and any milk or milk product involved may not be offered for sale.
(g) Samples must be analyzed at an official laboratory or appropriate officially designated laboratory. All sampling procedures and required laboratory examinations must be in substantial compliance with the most current edition of the Standard Methods for the Examination of Dairy Products of the American Public Health Association and the most current edition of the Official Methods of Analyses of AOAC International. These procedures and examinations must be evaluated in accordance with the methods of evaluating milk laboratories recommended by the United States Food and Drug Administration. Aseptically processed milk and milk products packaged in hermetically sealed containers must be tested in accordance with the United States Food and Drug Administration's Bacteriological Analytical Manual.
(h) Examinations and tests must be conducted to detect adulterants, including pesticides, as the board requires. Assays of vitamin D milk or milk products and fortified milk and milk products must be made at least annually by a milk plant in a laboratory acceptable to the board. Facilities fortifying products with vitamins must keep volume control records that cross-reference the form and amount of vitamin D and vitamin A used with the amount of product produced.
[Pre-2008 Recodification Citation: 15-2.1-23-5.]
As added by P.L.2-2008, SEC.9. Amended by P.L.186-2014, SEC.6.