Code of Maine Rules › 01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY › 001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL › Chapter 331 - STATE OF MAINE FOOD CODE 2001 › Chapter 4 - EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, AND LINENS › Section 001-331-4-1 - MATERIALS FOR CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
4-101 Multiuse
4-101.11 Characteristics.*
Materials that are used in the construction of UTENSILS and
					 FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT may not allow the migration of deleterious
					 substances or impart colors, odors, or tastes to FOOD and under normal use
					 conditions shall be:
(A)
				  Safe;
(B) Durable,
				  CORROSION-RESISTANT, and nonabsorbent;
N
(C)
				  Sufficient in weight and thickness to withstand repeated
				  WAREWASHING.
N
(D) Finished to have a SMOOTH, EASILY
				  CLEANABLE surface;
N
and
(E) Resistant to pitting, chipping, crazing,
				  scratching, scoring, distortion, and decomposition.
N
4-101.12 Cast Iron, Use Limitation.
(A) Except as specified in ¶¶ (B)
				  and (C) of this section, cast iron may not be used for UTENSILS or FOOD-CONTACT
				  SURFACES of EQUIPMENT.
(B)
Cast iron may be used as a surface for cooking.
(C)
Cast iron may be used in UTENSILS
				  for serving FOOD if the UTENSILS are used only as part of an uninterrupted
				  process from cooking through service.
4-101.13 Lead in Ceramic, China, and Crystal
					 Utensils, Use Limitation.
Ceramic, china, crystal UTENSILS, and decorative UTENSILS
					 such as hand painted ceramic or china that are used in contact with FOOD shall
					 be lead-free or contain levels of lead not exceeding the limits of the
					 following UTENSIL categories:
Utensil
Category
Description
Maximum Lead
mg/L
Hot Beverage Mugs
Coffee Mugs
0.5
Large Hollowware
Bowls
>=
1.1 L (1.16 QT)
1
Small Hollowware
Bowls < 1.1 L (1.16 QT)
2.0
Flat Utensils
Plates, Saucers
3.0
4-101.14 Copper, Use Limitation.*
(A) Except as specified in ¶ (B) of this
				  section, copper and copper alloys such as brass may not be used in contact with
				  a FOOD that has a pH below 6 such as vinegar, fruit JUICE, or wine or for a
				  fitting or tubing installed between a backflow prevention device and a
				  carbonator.
(B)
Copper and
				  copper alloys may be used in contact with beer brewing ingredients that have a
				  pH below 6 in the prefermentation and fermentation steps of a beer brewing
				  operation such as a brewpub or microbrewery.
4-101.15 Galvanized Metal, Use
					 Limitation.*
Galvanized metal may not be used for UTENSILS or
					 FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT that are used in contact with acidic
					 FOOD.
4-101.16 Sponges, Use Limitation.
Sponges may not be used in contact with cleaned and
					 SANITIZED or in-use FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES.
4-101.17 Lead in Pewter Alloys, Use
					 Limitation.
Pewter alloys containing lead in excess of 0.05% may not be
					 used as a FOOD-CONTACT SURFACE.
4-101.18 Lead in Solder and Flux, Use
					 Limitation.
Solder and flux containing lead in excess of 0.2% may not
					 be used as a FOOD-CONTACT SURFACE.
4-101.19 Wood, Use Limitation.
(A) Except as specified in ¶¶ (B),
				  (C), and (D) of this section, wood and wood wicker may not be used as a
				  FOOD-CONTACT SURFACE.
(B)
Hard maple or an equivalently hard, close-grained wood may be used
				  for:
(1)
Cutting boards;
				  cutting blocks; bakers' tables; and UTENSILS such as rolling pins, doughnut
				  dowels, salad bowls, and chopsticks; and
(2)
Wooden paddles used in
				  confectionery operations for pressure scraping kettles when manually preparing
				  confections at a temperature of 110
°C
				  (230
°F) or above.