Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 21 - Agriculture and Land Stewardship Department › Chapter 36 - Egg Handlers › Rule 21-36.3 - Minimum Sanitation and Operating Requirements

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
(1) Buildings shall be of sound construction
			 so as to prevent the entrance or harboring of insects, rodents, or vermin.
			 Floors shall be of washable materials and kept clean and floor drains provided
			 where necessary. Walls and ceilings shall be of cleanable material and be kept
			 clean and in good repair
(2) All
			 areas and rooms in which eggs are handled, graded, and packed shall be kept
			 reasonably clean during working hours and shall be thoroughly cleaned at the
			 end of each operating day. Cartons and cases shall be stored off the floor and
			 storage areas kept clean and dry.
(3) Cooler rooms shall be free from
			 objectionable odors, such as mustiness or a rotten odor, and shall be
			 maintained in a clean, sanitary condition.
(4) Egg cleaning equipment shall be kept in
			 good repair and shall be thoroughly cleaned after each day's use or more often
			 if necessary to maintain a sanitary condition. The wash water shall be potable
			 and maintained at a temperature of 90°F minimum. The wash water temperature
			 must be at least 20°F greater than the egg temperature. The wash water
			 shall be replaced frequently, and the detergent and sanitizer shall be kept at
			 an effective level at all times. During any rest period, or at any time when
			 the equipment is not in operation, the eggs shall be removed from the washing
			 and rinsing area of the egg washer and from the scanning area whenever there is
			 a buildup of heat.
(5) All eggs not
			 cleaned as stated in subrule 36.3(4) must be properly washed and sanitized
			 prior to placement in a carton or container for distribution in a site or
			 operation that provides or prepares food for human consumption.
(6) Facilities for hand washing, Cornplete
			 with hot and cold potable water under pressure, shall be provided. Hand soap,
			 sanitary towels, or a hand-drying device providing heated air shall be
			 conveniently located near the hand-washing area.
(7) Live animals shall be excluded from the
			 plant or portion of the plant in which shell eggs or egg products are handled
			 or stored.
(8) Only United States
			 Department of Agriculture (USDA) or federally approved cleaning Cornpounds and
			 sanitizers may be used. The following substances used in the plant shall be
			 approved and handled in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions:
			 pesticides, insecticides, rodenticides, cleaning Cornpounds, foam control
			 Cornpounds, sanitizers, and inks and oils Corning into contact with the
			 product. These products shall be properly stored and segregated.
(9) A separate refuse room or a designated
			 area for the accumulation of trash must be provided. There shall be a
			 sufficient number of containers to hold trash, which must be maintained in good
			 repair, kept covered when not in use, and cleaned at a frequency to prevent
			 insect and rodent attraction.
(10)
			 Washed eggs must be reasonably dry before being placed in cartons or
			 cases.