Sec. 174.
(1) A person that manufactures, processes, or packages evaporated, condensed, or sterilized dairy products shall ensure that the equipment and utensils used for processing and packaging evaporated, condensed, or sterilized dairy products comply with sections 135 through 143 and each of the following requirements:
(a) All equipment used in the removal of moisture from milk or dairy products for the purpose of concentrating the solids meets sanitary standards.
(b) Gravity and vacuum-type fillers are of sanitary design and, except as provided in subdivision (c), all product contact surfaces, if metal, are made of stainless steel or an equally corrosion resistant material approved by the department.
(c) Nonmetallic product contact surfaces meet standards established or approved by the department.
(d) Fillers are designed to prevent contamination of, or detraction from, the quality of the product being packaged.
(e) Batch or continuous in-container sterilizers are equipped with accurate temperature controls and effective valves for regulating the sterilization process and the equipment is maintained to assure control of the length of time of processing, and to minimize the number of damaged containers.
(2) If applicable, a person who owns or operates a plant described in section 140 or 141 shall use homogenizers to reduce the size of fat particles and to evenly disperse those particles in the product and ensure that each homogenizer meets sanitary standards.
(3) Pasteurization shall be performed by systems and equipment meeting the requirements identified in section 139.
(4) A person shall fill and hermetically seal containers with product in a sanitary manner, and ensure that each container does not contaminate or detract from the quality of the product.
(5) A person shall ensure that bulk containers or retail containers for unsterilized product meet department standards to protect a product in storage or transit. Each bulk container, including bulk tankers, shall be cleaned and sanitized before filling and filled and closed in a sanitary manner.
(6) A previously sterilized product shall be filled under conditions which prevent contamination of the product by living organisms or spores. Prior to being filled, a container shall be sterilized and maintained in a sterile condition. A filled container shall be sealed in a manner that prevents contamination of the product.
(7) All sterilized or aseptically processed product must comply with the requirements set forth by the scheduled process and the food and drug administration under 21 C.F.R. part 113.
History: 2001, Act 267, Eff. Feb. 8, 2002