§ 59.215. Protection from contamination.

 (a)  Equipment and operations shall be so located within the plant as to prevent overcrowding and contamination of cleaned and sanitized containers, equipment, and utensils by splash, condensation or manual contact.

 (b)  During processing, pipelines and equipment used to contain or conduct milk and milk products shall be effectively separated from tanks or circuits containing cleaning or sanitizing solutions.

 (c)  All milk and milk products which have overflowed, leaked, been spilled, or been improperly handled shall be discarded. Milk and milk products drained from processing equipment at the end of a run or collected from a defoamer system which does not continuously return such product to the filler bowl—or milk solids rinsed from equipment, containers, or pipelines—shall be repasteurized only if such milk or milk products are handled in a sanitary manner and maintained at 45°F (7°C) or less. When the handling or refrigeration of such milk and milk products are not in compliance with this requirement, they shall be discarded. Returned packaged milk and milk products shall not be repasteurized for fluid milk; provided that the repasteurization of milk and milk products shipped in transport tankers which have been pasteurized at another plant and have been handled in a sanitary manner and maintained at 45°F (7°C) or less is permitted.

 (d)  All product-contact surfaces of containers, equipment, and utensils shall be covered or otherwise protected to prevent the access of insects, dust, condensation, and other contamination. All openings—including valves and piping attached to milk storage and milk tank trucks, pump, vats, and the like—shall be capped or otherwise properly protected. While unloading at a receiving station, transfer station, or pasteurization plant, one of the following conditions shall be met:

   (1)  If the area is completely enclosed—walls and ceiling, with doors closed—during the unloading process and the dustcover or dome and the manhole cover is opened slightly and held in this position by the metal clamps used to close the cover, then a filter is not required. However, if the dustcover or manhole cover are opened in excess of that provided by the metal clamps or if the covers have been removed, then a suitable filter shall be required for the manhole.

   (2)  If the area is not completely enclosed or if doors of the unloading area are open during unloading, then a suitable filter shall be required for the manhole or air inlet vent and suitable protection shall be provided over the filter material either by design of the filter holding apparatus or a roof or ceiling over the area. Direct connections from milk tank truck to milk tank truck shall be made from valve to valve and not from manhole to manhole, and the dustcover—dome—of the milk tank truck being filled shall be closed.

   (3)  Receiving and dump vats shall be completely covered, except during washing and sanitizing and when milk is being dumped. Where strainers are used, the cover for the vat opening shall be designed to cover the opening with a strainer in place.

 (e)  Whenever air under pressure is used for the agitation or movement of milk or is directed at a milk-contact surface, it shall be free of oil, dust, rust, excessive moisture, extraneous materials, and odor. Reference should be made to Appendix H of the PMO. The use of steam containing toxic substances is prohibited. Whenever steam is used in contact with milk or milk products, it shall be of culinary quality and shall comply with the applicable standards of quality.

 (f)  Standardization shall be done before the pasteurization process is started unless pasteurized milk or milk products are used for standardization. Such pasteurized products shall be protected against contamination. In no case shall pasteurized milk or milk products be standardized with unpasteurized milk unless the standardized product is subsequently pasteurized. Reconstituted or recombined milk and milk products shall be pasteurized after reconstitution or recombining of all ingredients. Standardization of milk and dairy products with other than approved milk and dairy products is prohibited.

 (g)  The processing of foods and drinks other than milk and milk products approved by the Secretary shall be performed to preclude the contamination of such milk and milk products. Such approved products shall be from a source acceptable to the Secretary with respect to sanitation and protection of public health.

 (h)  Means shall be provided to prevent contamination of milk containers, utensils, and equipment by drippings, spillage and splash from overhead piping, platforms, or mezzanines.

 (i)  All ingredients and nonproduct-contact materials used in the preparation or packaging of milk and milk products shall be stored in a clean place and shall be so handled as to prevent their contamination.

 (j)  Pasteurized milk shall not be strained or filtered except through a perforated metal strainer.

 (k)  Only those poisonous or toxic materials—including but not limited to insecticides, rodenticides, detergents, sanitizers, caustics, acids and related cleaning compounds—and medicinal agents necessary for the maintenance of the dairy plant shall be present in the dairy plant.

 (l)  Those poisonous or toxic materials that are necessary shall not be stored in any room where milk or milk products are received, processed, pasteurized, or stored where equipment, containers, or utensils are washed; or where single-service containers, closures or caps are stored.

 (m)  Those poisonous or toxic materials that are necessary shall be stored in a separate area of the plant in prominently and distinctly labeled containers; provided that this does not preclude the convenient availability of detergents or sanitizers to areas where equipment, containers and utensils are washed and sanitized.

 (n)  Only insecticides and rodenticides approved by the Department or registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency shall be used for insect and rodent control. Such insecticides and rodenticides shall be used only in accordance with the manufacturer’s label directions and shall be prevented from contaminating milk, containers, equipment and utensils.

   This section cited in 7 Pa. Code §  59.251 (relating to receiving station requirements); 7 Pa. Code §  59.252 (relating to transfer station requirements); 7 Pa. Code §  59.253 (relating to tank truck cleaning and sanitizing facilities requirements); 7 Pa. Code §  59.703 (relating to facilities); and 7 Pa. Code §  59.704 (relating to equipment and utensils).