Regulations last checked for updates: Nov 22, 2024
Title 21 - Food and Drugs last revised: Nov 19, 2024
§ 1250.20 - Applicability.
All conveyances engaged in interstate traffic shall comply with the requirements prescribed in this subpart and § 1240.20 of this chapter.
§ 1250.21 - Inspection.
The Commissioner of Food and Drugs may inspect such conveyance to determine compliance with the requirements of this subpart and § 1240.20 of this chapter.
[40 FR 5624, Feb. 6, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 11432, Mar. 18, 1983]
§ 1250.22 - General requirements.
All food and drink served on conveyances shall be clean, wholesome, and free from spoilage, and shall be prepared, stored, handled, and served in accordance with the requirements prescribed in this subpart and § 1240.20 of this chapter.
§ 1250.25 - Source identification and inspection of food and drink.
(a) Operators of conveyances shall identify, when requested by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, the vendors, distributors or dealers from whom they have acquired or are acquiring their food supply, including milk, fluid milk products, ice cream and other frozen desserts, butter, cheese, bottled water, sandwiches and box lunches.
(b) The Commissioner of Food and Drugs may inspect any source of such food supply in order to determine whether the requirements of the regulations in this subpart and in § 1240.20 of this chapter are being met, and may utilize the results of inspections of such sources made by representatives of State health departments or of the health authorities of contiguous foreign nations.
[40 FR 5624, Feb. 6, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 11432, Mar. 18, 1983]
§ 1250.26 - Special food requirements.
Milk, fluid milk products, ice cream and other frozen desserts, butter, cheese, and shellfish served or sold on conveyances shall conform to the following requirements:
(a) Milk and fluid milk products, including cream, buttermilk, skim milk, milk beverages, and reconstituted milk, shall be pasteurized and obtained from a source of supply approved by the Commissioner of Food and Drugs. The Commissioner of Food and Drugs shall approve any source of supply at or from which milk or fluid milk products are produced, processed, and distributed so as to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases. If a source of supply of milk or fluid milk products has not been approved, the Commissioner of Food and Drugs may permit its temporary use under such conditions as, in his judgment, are necessary to prevent the introduction, transmission, or spread of communicable diseases. Containers of milk and fluid milk products shall be plainly labeled to show the contents, the word “pasteurized”, and the identity of the plant at which the contents were packaged by name and address, provided that a code may be used in lieu of address.
(b) Ice cream, other frozen desserts, and butter shall be manufactured from milk or milk products that have been pasteurized or subjected to equivalent heat treatment.
(c) Cheese shall be (1) pasteurized or subjected to equivalent heat treatment, (2) made from pasteurized milk products or from milk products which have been subjected to equivalent heat treatment, or (3) cured for not less than 60 days at a temperature not less than 35 °F.
(d) Milk, buttermilk, and milk beverages shall be served in or from the original individual containers in which received from the distributor, or from a bulk container equipped with a dispensing device so designed, constructed, installed, and maintained as to prevent the transmission of communicable diseases.
(e) Shellfish purchased for consumption on any conveyance shall originate from a dealer currently listed by the Public Health Service as holding an unexpired and unrevoked certificate issued by a State authority.
(f) Shucked shellfish shall be purchased in the containers in which they are placed at the shucking plant and shall be kept therein until used. The State abbreviation and the certificate number of the packers shall be permanently recorded on the container.
[40 FR 5624, Feb. 6, 1975, as amended at 48 FR 11432, Mar. 18, 1983]
§ 1250.27 - Storage of perishables.
All perishable food or drink shall be kept at or below 50 °F, except when being prepared or kept hot for serving.
§ 1250.28 - Source and handling of ice.
Ice coming in contact with food or drink and not manufactured on the conveyance shall be obtained from sources approved by competent health authorities. All ice coming in contact with food or drink shall be stored and handled in such manner as to avoid contamination.
§ 1250.30 - Construction, maintenance and use of places where food is prepared, served, or stored.
(a) All kitchens, galleys, pantries, and other places where food is prepared, served, or stored shall be adequately lighted and ventilated: Provided, however, That ventilation of cold storage rooms shall not be required. All such places where food is prepared, served, or stored shall be so constructed and maintained as to be clean and free from flies, rodents, and other vermin.
(b) Such places shall not be used for sleeping or living quarters.
(c) Water of satisfactory sanitary quality, under head or pressure, and adequate in amount and temperature, shall be easily accessible to all rooms in which food is prepared and utensils are cleaned.
(d) All plumbing shall be so designed, installed, and maintained as to prevent contamination of the water supply, food, and food utensils.
§ 1250.32 - Food-handling operations.
(a) All food-handling operations shall be accomplished so as to minimize the possibility of contaminating food, drink, or utensils.
(b) The hands of all persons shall be kept clean while engaged in handling food, drink, utensils, or equipment.
§ 1250.33 - Utensils and equipment.
(a) All utensils and working surfaces used in connection with the preparation, storage, and serving of food or beverages, and the cleaning of food utensils, shall be so constructed as to be easily cleaned and self-draining and shall be maintained in good repair. Adequate facilities shall be provided for the cleaning and bactericidal treatment of all multiuse eating and drinking utensils and equipment used in the preparation of food and beverages. An indicating thermometer, suitably located, shall be provided to permit the determination of the hot water temperature when and where hot water is used as the bactericidal agent.
(b) All multiuse eating and drinking utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned in warm water and subjected to an effective bactericidal treatment after each use. All other utensils that come in contact with food and drink shall be similarly treated immediately following the day's operation. All equipment shall be kept clean.
(c) After bactericidal treatment, utensils shall be stored and handled in such manner as to prevent contamination before reuse.
§ 1250.34 - Refrigeration equipment.
Each refrigerator shall be equipped with a thermometer located in the warmest portion thereof. Waste water drains from ice boxes, refrigerating equipment, and refrigerated spaces shall be so installed as to prevent backflow of contaminating liquids.
§ 1250.35 - Health of persons handling food.
(a) Any person who is known or suspected to be in a communicable period or a carrier of any communicable disease shall not be permitted to engage in the preparation, handling, or serving of water, other beverages, or food.
(b) Any person known or suspected to be suffering from gastrointestinal disturbance or who has on the exposed portion of the body an open lesion or an infected wound shall not be permitted to engage in the preparation, handling, or serving of food or beverages.
§ 1250.38 - Toilet and lavatory facilities for use of food-handling employees.
(a) Toilet and lavatory facilities of suitable design and construction shall be provided for use of food-handling employees. Railroad dining car crew lavatory facilities are regulated under § 1250.45.
(b) Signs directing food-handling employees to wash their hands after each use of toilet facilities shall be posted so as to be readily observable by such employees. Hand washing facilities shall include soap, sanitary towels and hot and cold running water or warm running water in lieu of hot and cold running water.
(c) All toilet rooms shall be maintained in a clean condition.
§ 1250.39 - Garbage equipment and disposition.
Watertight, readily cleanable nonabsorbent containers with close-fitting covers shall be used to receive and store garbage. Garbage and refuse shall be disposed of as frequently as is necessary and practicable.
source: 40 FR 5624, Feb. 6, 1975, unless otherwise noted.
cite as: 21 CFR 1250.26