Alabama Administrative Code › Title 420 - ALABAMA STATE BOARD OF HEALTH › Chapter 420-3-16 - PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, HANDLING OR DISTRIBUTION OF MILK, MILK PRODUCTS AND FROZEN DESSERTS › APPENDICES › Appendix G - CHEMICAL AND BACTERIOLOGICAL TESTS

Current through Register Vol. 42, No. 9, June 28, 2024
I.
PRIVATE WATER SUPPLIES AND RECIRCULATED WATER -
				  BACTERIOLOGICAL
Reference:
Rules
				  420-3-16-.08 and
				  420-3-16-.10(7)(7p)
Application:
To private water supplies used by
				  dairy farms, milk plants, frozen dessert plants, receiving stations, transfer
				  stations, and milk tank truck cleaning facilities, and to recirculated cooling
				  water used in dairy processing plants, receiving stations, and dairy
				  farms.
Frequency:
Water shall be tested for the
				  presence of total coliform and E. coli initially; after repair, modification,
				  or disinfection of the private water supplies of dairy farms, milk plants,
				  receiving stations, transfer stations, and milk tank truck cleaning facilities,
				  and thereafter; semiannually for all milk plants, receiving stations, transfer
				  stations and milk tank truck cleaning facilities water supplies; and at least
				  every three (3) years on dairy farms. Recirculated cooling water in milk
				  plants, receiving stations, and on dairy farms shall be tested
				  semiannually.
Criteria:
An MPN of coliform organisms of less
				  than 1.1 per 100 mL, when ten (10) replicate tubes containing 10 mL, or when
				  five (5) replicate tubes containing 20 mL are tested using the Multiple Tube
				  Fermentation (MTF) technique, or one of the Chromogenic Substrate multiple tube
				  procedures; a direct count of less than 1 per 100 mL using the Membrane Filter
				  (MF) technique; or a presence/absence (P/A) determination indicating less than
				  1 per 100 mL when one vessel containing 100 mL is tested using the MTF
				  technique or one of the Chromogenic Substrate procedures. The Chromogenic
				  Substrate procedures are not acceptable for recirculated cooling water. Any
				  sample producing a bacteriological result of Too Numerous To Count (TNTC) or
				  Confluent Growth (CG) by the MF technique; or turbidity in a presumptive test
				  with no gas production and with no gas production in confirmation (optional
				  test) by the MTF technique (both MPN and P/A format) shall be considered
				  invalid and shall have a Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC), from the same sample
				  or subsequent resample, of less than 500 colony forming units (CFU) per mL in
				  order to be deemed satisfactory. Findings by HPC shall be reported as Positive
				  or Not-Found.
Apparatus, Methods, and Procedure
- Tests
				  performed shall conform to the current edition of
SMEWW
or
				  with FDA approved,
EPA Promulgated Methods for the Examination of Water
				  and Waste Water
or the applicable FDA/NCIMS 2400 Forms (refer to
				  M-a-98, latest revision).
Corrective Action
- When the laboratory report
				  on the sample is positive for total coliform but negative for the presence of
				  E. coli or indicates an HPC of greater than 500 CFU per mL on a sample that had
				  previously been invalidated, the water supply in question shall be considered
				  at risk for pathogenic contamination and shall again be physically inspected
				  and necessary corrections made until subsequent samples are bacteriologically
				  satisfactory. This inspection shall be completed within thirty (30) days of the
				  date of the positive test result. If the inspection and corrective action are
				  completed, but the water supply in question is still testing positive for total
				  coliform but negative for E. coli, the facility shall continue to investigate
				  and correct problems until subsequent samples are bacteriologically
				  satisfactory. When the laboratory report on the sample is positive for both
				  total coliform and E. coli, or the facility has failed to complete the water
				  supply inspection within thirty (30) days of the initial positive test result,
				  the water supply is considered unsatisfactory.
II.
RECLAIMED WATER AND RECIRCULATED WATER -
				  BACTERIOLOGICAL
Reference
- Rules
				  420-3-16-.07,
				  420-3-16-.09(08),
				  420-3-16-.9(20),
				  420-3-16-.10(7),
				  and 420-3-16-.10(23).
Application
- To reclaimed water and
				  recirculated cooling water used in milk plants, receiving stations, transfer
				  stations, and dairy farms.
Frequency
- Initially, after repair,
				  modification, or disinfection of the reclaimed water and/or recirculated
				  cooling water supplies of dairy farms, milk plants, receiving stations, and
				  transfer stations; and reclaimed water and recirculated cooling water in milk
				  plants, receiving stations, and on dairy farms shall be tested semiannually
				  thereafter.
Criteria
- An MPN of total coliform organisms of
				  less than 1.1 per 100 mL, when ten (10) replicate tubes containing 10 mL, or
				  when five (5) replicate tubes containing 20 mL are tested using the MTF
				  technique, or one (1) of the Chromogenic Substrate multiple tube procedures; a
				  direct count of less than 1 per 100 mL using the MF technique; or a P/A
				  determination indicating less than 1 per 100 mL when one (1) vessel containing
				  100 mL is tested using the MTF technique or one (1) of the Chromogenic
				  Substrate multiple tube procedures. The Chromogenic Substrate multiple tube
				  procedures are not acceptable for recirculated cooling water. Any sample
				  producing a bacteriological result of TNTC or CG by the MF technique; or
				  turbidity in a presumptive test with no gas production and with no gas
				  production in confirmation (optional test) by the MTF technique (both MPN and
				  P/A format) shall be considered invalid and shall have a HPC from the same
				  sample or subsequent resample of less than 500 CFU per mL in order to be deemed
				  satisfactory. Findings by HPC shall be reported as Positive or
				  Not-Found.
Apparatus, Methods, and Procedure
- Tests
				  performed shall conform with the current edition of
SMEWW
or
				  with FDA approved, EPA promulgated methods for the examination of water and
				  waste water, or the applicable FDA/NCIMS 2400 Forms (refer to M-a-98, latest
				  revision).
Corrective Action
- When the laboratory report
				  on the sample is unsatisfactory, the water supply in question shall again be
				  physically inspected and necessary corrections made until subsequent samples
				  are bacteriologically satisfactory.
III.
PASTEURIZATION EFFICIENCE-FIELD PHOSPHATASE
				  TEST
Reference
- Rule
				  420-3-16-.10(07)
Frequency
- When any laboratory phosphatase test
				  is positive, or any doubt arises as to the adequacy of pasteurization due to
				  noncompliance with equipment, or requirements of
				  420-3-16-.10(16).
Criteria
- Less than 350 mU/L by an electronic
				  phosphatase procedure.
Apparatus
- Fluorophos (Advanced Instruments),
				  Paslite and Fast Alkaline Phosphatase (Charm Sciences, Inc.),
				  approved/validated standards and accessories.
Methods
- The test is based on the detection of
				  the phosphatase enzyme, a constituent that is inactivated by pasteurization at
				  63°C (145°F) for thirty (30) minutes or 72°C (161°F) for
				  fifteen (15) seconds. When pasteurization is faulty, some phosphatase remains
				  and is determined by the electronic detection of fluorescent or
				  chemiluminescent by-products of its action on the approved test system's
				  substrates.
Procedure
- Refer to the applicable FDA/NCIMS
				  2400 Forms and M-a-98, latest revision, for the specific milk and/or milk
				  products for which there are approved phosphatase tests available.
Corrective Action
- Whenever a phosphatase test
				  is positive, the cause shall be determined. Where the cause is improper
				  pasteurization, it shall be corrected and any milk or milk products involved
				  shall not be offered for sale.
IV.
PHOSPHATASE REACTIVATION IN HTST PASTEURIZED
				  PRODUCTS
The presence of an appreciable quantity of phosphatase in
				  milk and cream after heat treatment has been traditionally regarded as evidence
				  of inadequate pasteurization. However, with the advent of modern HTST methods,
				  evidence has been accumulating that under certain conditions, the relationship
				  between inadequate pasteurization and the presence of phosphatase does not
				  hold.
A number of investigators who have studied HTST pasteurizing
				  methods have concluded that while a negative test can be obtained immediately
				  after pasteurization, the same sample may yield a positive test after a short
				  period of storage, particularly if the product is not continuously or
				  adequately refrigerated. This phenomenon has come to be known as
				  reactivation.
Reactivation may occur in HTST pasteurized products after
				  storage at temperatures as low as 10°C (50°F), although 34°C
				  (93°F) is optimum. Products of high fat content generally produce
				  relatively more reactivable phosphatase.
Reactivation is greatest in products pasteurized at about
				  110°C (230°F), but may occur in products pasteurized at much higher
				  temperatures and as low as 73°C (163°F).
It has been noted that an increase in holding time during
				  pasteurization will reduce reactivation. The addition of magnesium acetate to
				  HTST processed milk or cream after pasteurization but before storage
				  accelerates reactivation. The difference in activity between an adequately
				  pasteurized sample, stored with and without magnesium, and an inadequately
				  pasteurized sample, stored with and without magnesium, forms the basis of a
				  test for differentiating reactivated from residual, inadequately pasteurized
				  phosphatase.
V.
DETECTION OF PESTICIDES IN MILK
Any health agency that has adopted these rules should operate
				  under a control program that will ensure that milk supplies are free from
				  pesticide contamination in conformance with
				  420-3-16-.03.
Pesticide compounds gain access to milk by various routes,
				  including any of the following:
1. Application to the lactating animals.
2. Inhalation of toxic vapors by the animals, following
				  application to their environment.
3. Ingestion of residues in feed and water.
4. Accidental contamination of milk, feed, and
				  utensils.
At the present time, chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides are
				  the chief concern. While there are other pest control compounds that are more
				  toxic than the chlorinated hydrocarbons, many of the agents in this latter
				  group tend to accumulate in the body fat of both lactating animals and human
				  beings, and are secreted in the milk of contaminated lactating animals. The
				  accumulation of these toxic agents in a person continually consuming
				  contaminated milk may reach hazardous concentrations. Advances in residue
				  analysis have resulted in a radical decrease in the use of paper
				  chromatographic screening procedures for milk because of its rather limited
				  sensitivity. Health Officers can now routinely detect residues as low as 0.01
				  ppm of many of the chlorinated organic pesticides. Satisfactory screening
				  procedures should, therefore, attain this level of sensitivity, which usually
				  necessitates the use of gas chromatography or thin layer chromatography.
General screening procedures of the latter two (2) types are
				  described and discussed in Volume 1 of the
Pesticide Analytical Manual
(
PAM
) published by FDA.
The need for closer scrutiny of milk supplies for pesticide
				  residues has stimulated considerable research in detection technology. The
				  Health Officer entering upon a surveillance program should carefully check the
				  available equipment in relation to its adaptability to the indicated need.
				  While a schedule of testing comparable to that for microorganisms, four (4)
				  tests of individual producer's milk during any consecutive six (6) months would
				  be desirable, broad-spectrum procedures are too time consuming to render such a
				  schedule feasible. As a more practical approach, the following procedure is
				  suggested:
1. Test one (1) load of milk from each milk tank truck route
				  every six (6) months by a broad spectrum method and trace positive samples;
				  or
2. Test each producer's milk four (4) times every six (6)
				  months for the most common chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides by available
				  instrumental methodology.
Note:
Where Procedure 1 is used, samples of
				  commingled milk from known sources are drawn from receiving station storage
				  tanks. Sampling for Procedure 2 may be done directly from the weigh
				  tank.
VI.
DETECTION OF DRUG RESIDUES IN MILK
The problem of drug residues in milk is associated with their
				  use in the treatment of mastitis and other diseases. Failure to withhold milk
				  from the market for a sufficient length of time after treatment may result in
				  the presence of drug residues in milk. Such milk is undesirable for two (2)
				  reasons:
1. It comes from an unhealthy lactating animal.
2. It is adulterated.
The allergenic properties of certain drugs in common use make
				  their presence in milk potentially hazardous to consumers. Also, substantial
				  losses of by products may be sustained by the milk industry each year because
				  of the inhibitory effects of drug residues on the culturing process. Drug
				  residues shall be tested for, using tests provided for in
				  420-3-16-.07. These tests are
				  specified in memoranda from the FDA (refer to the latest revision of M-a-85 for
				  the approved drug tests, the FDA/NCIMS 2400 Forms for each specific test method
				  and M-a-98, latest revision, for the specific milk and/or milk products for
				  which there are approved drug tests available).
VII.
ANALYSIS OF MILK AND MILK PRODUCTS FOR VITAMIN A
				  AND D CONTENT
Reference
- Rule
				  420-3-16-.07
Frequency
- Annually for each product type, or
				  when any doubt arises as to the adequacy of vitamin fortification (refer to
				  Appendix O).
Methods
- Vitamin testing shall be performed
				  using test methods acceptable to the FDA and other official methodologies that
				  give statistically equivalent results to the FDA methods (refer to M- a-98,
				  latest revision, for the specific milk and/or milk products that have FDA
				  validated and NCIMS accepted test methods for vitamins).
REFERENCES
Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC
				  INTERNATIONAL,
19th Edition, 2012.
Pesticide Analytical Manual
,
				  (
PAM
) available from the
U. S. Food and Drug
				  Administration
, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, HFS-335,
				  5100 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park, MD 20740-3835.
Author:
G. M. Gallaspy, Jr.
Statutory Authority:
Code of Ala. 1975,
					 §§
											22-2-2,
					 22-20-7.