Code of Maine Rules
01 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY
001 - AGRICULTURE - GENERAL
Chapter 346 - RULES GOVERNING MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION AND LICENSING
Sec2 001-346-3 - FOOD CONCERNS
Subsection 001-346-3-5 - Packaged and Unpackaged Food; Separation, Packaging, and Segregation

Universal Citation: 01 ME Code Rules ยง 001-346-3-5

Current through 2024-38, September 18, 2024

A. Food must be protected from cross contamination by:

1. Separating raw animal foods during storage, preparation, holding, and display from cooked ready to eat food.

2. Except when combined as ingredients separating types of raw animal food from each other such as beef, fish, lamb, pork, and poultry during storage, preparation, holding and display by:
a. Using separate equipment for each type; or

b. Arranging any type of food in equipment so that cross contamination of one type with another is prevented; and

c. Preparing each type of food at different times or in separate areas;

3. Cleaning equipment and utensils as specified under Section 7, Subsection 1, and sanitizing as specified under Section 7, Subsection 5;

4. Except as specified in Section 3, Subsection 5(B), storing the food in packages, covered containers, or wrappings;

5. Cleaning hermetically sealed containers of food of visible soil before opening;

6. Protecting food containers that are received packaged together in a case or over-wrap from cuts when the case or over-wrap is opened;

7. The use of burlap as a wrapping for meat will not be permitted unless the meat is first wrapped with a food grade paper or cloth, which will prevent contamination with lint or other foreign matter.

B. Section 3, Subsection 5(A), (4) does not apply to:

1. Primal cuts, quarters, or sides or raw meat or slab bacon that are hung on clean, sanitized hooks or placed on clean, sanitized racks; or smoked or cured sausages that are placed on clean, sanitized racks;

2. Food being cooled as specified under Section 3, Subsection 13(B), (2).

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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