Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL
Chapter 332 - RABBIT PROCESSING
Section 001-332-13 - CLEANING OF EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS

(1) Pens or cages shall be cleaned regularly, and the manure removed from the establishment daily.

(2) Food-contact surfaces, including utensils and food-contact surfaces of equipment used in the handling of ready-to cook and heat treated rabbit products, shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition when in use. All equipment and utensils shall be thoroughly washed and cleaned after each day's operation. Cleaned equipment and utensils shall be drained on racks and shall not be nested.

(3) Tanks, vats, and other receptacles used to hold, or transport ready-to-cook rabbits shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

(4) Chilling vats or tanks, if practicable, shall be emptied after each use. They shall be thoroughly cleaned once daily, and after each cleaning operation, they shall be sanitized with approved chemical compounds.

(5) When a tray evisceration operation is used, trays shall be single use and washed and sanitized after each use.

(6) Cleaned and sanitized equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils shall be stored in a location and manner that protects food-contact surfaces from contamination.

(7) Single-service articles (such as packaging materials) should be stored in appropriate containers and shall be handled, dispensed, used, and disposed of in a manner that protects against contamination of food or food-contact surfaces.