Rule 3717-1-08.4 | Special requirements: acidified white rice preparation criteria.
A retail food establishment or food service operation that acidifies white rice for the purpose of rendering it a non-time/temperature controlled for safety food is to meet the applicable requirements of this chapter and have a HACCP plan that includes:
(A) A description of the products produced;
(B) A recipe for the production of the acidified rice that specifies:
(1) The water to rice ratio prior to cooking, and the cooking schedule;
(2) The vinegar solution recipe including salts and sugars;
(3) The cooked rice to vinegar solution ratio that is to be thoroughly mixed to acidify the rice;
(4) The cooked and acidified rice is to have a pH below 4.2; and
(5) The vinegar solution is to be added to the rice within thirty minutes of cooking.
(C) The method used to determine the pH of the cooked, acidified rice that includes the following:
(1) Conducting the pH test within thirty minutes after acidification of the cooked rice and as often as necessary to assure a pH below 4.2;
(2) Making a rice slurry by gathering a one-quarter cup sample of the cooked acidified rice taken from various locations in the batch and adding enough distilled water to submerge the rice sample;
(3) Blending the slurry for approximately twenty seconds to create a thorough mix;
(4) Inserting a pH probe into the liquid portion of the slurry to ensure a pH below 4.2 is achieved; and
(5) Recording of measurements.
(D) Standard sanitary operation procedures that:
(1) Ensure the use of single-use gloves as specified in paragraph (N) of rule 3717-1-03.2 of the Administrative Code to prevent contacting the food with bare hands;
(2) Identify a designated work area that includes a dedicated sink and preparation table, and the method by which:
(a) Access to the processing equipment is restricted to responsible trained personnel familiar with the potential hazards of the operation; and
(b) Food-contact surfaces are cleaned as specified in rule 3717-1-04.5 of the Administrative Code and sanitized as specified in rule 3717-1-04.6 of the Administrative Code; or
(c) If it is necessary to share workspace and facilities, a schedule of operations, personnel traffic, product traffic, and cleaning that is planned to prevent cross contamination of ready-to-eat sushi products.
(E) A description of the training program that ensures that the individual responsible for the acidified rice operation understands the:
(1) Application of HACCP principles to the processing of acidified rice;
(2) Maintenance of pH records and the verification of procedures specified in this rule;
(3) Maintenance of equipment and facilities; and
(4) Procedures specified under this rule.
Last updated September 16, 2024 at 12:15 PM
Supplemental Information