NAC584.2511. Cleaning and sanitizing of containers and equipment.

     1. The surfaces of all containers, equipment and utensils that are designed for repeated use and are used in the transportation, processing, handling and storage of milk or milk products must be cleaned and sanitized before each use.

     2. Every person who receives deliveries of milk or products made from it shall thoroughly clean any containers designed for repeated use in which the milk or product is delivered before returning the container to the milk plant. Employees of the plant shall not pick up, for return to the plant, any container designed for repeated use that is dirty.

     3. Any bottling plant in which containers designed for repeated use are washed manually must be equipped with:

     (a) A two-compartment wash-and-rinse vat for that purpose; and

     (b) A steam cabinet or an individual steam jet and hood for sanitizing the cleaned containers, or an additional vat if sanitizing is done with chemicals. Containers cleaned in this manner must be properly drained before use.

     4. If a plant utilizes bottle washers which are automatic, those washers must treat the bottles for bacteria with steam, hot water or chemically. If a plant utilizes bottle washers of the soaker type, in which bactericidal treatment depends upon the causticity of the washing solution, the caustic strength for a given temperature and time for soaking must be that specified by the Commission. The containers washed and treated in this manner must be rinsed to ensure that they are free of residues from cleaning compounds and live harmful organisms.

     5. A cleaning compound other than one which is caustic may be approved by the Commission if its effectiveness in cleaning is equivalent to that achieved by a caustic solution.

     [Bd. of Health, Raw Milk Reg. §§ 9.12-9.12.3, eff. 1-7-82]—(NAC A by Dairy Comm’n by R151-01, 12-17-2001, eff. 1-1-2002; R082-11, 5-30-2012)