Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. R. 40-2-16-.23 - Raw Milk Cooling
(1)
Cooling.
(a) Raw milk must be
cooled to 10ºC (50ºF) or less, within four (4) hours after starting
the milking operation.
(b) The milk
must then be cooled to 7ºC (45ºF) or less, within two (2) additional
hours.
(c) The start of the milking
operation is the moment when milk is first transferred to an empty, clean, and
sanitized farm bulk milk tank, silo, or direct load milk tank truck.
(d) The blend temperature after the first
milking and subsequent milkings must not exceed 10ºC
(50ºF).
(2)
Recirculation Systems.
(a)
Recirculated cooling water used in plate or tubular coolers and/or heat
exchangers, including those systems in which a freezing point depressant is
used, must be:
1. From an approved system as
outlined in
40-2-16-.13(1);
2. Protected from contamination;
and
3. Tested for coliforms and
E. coli at least once every six (6) month
period.
(b) Recirculated
cooling water systems which become contaminated through repair work or
otherwise must be properly treated and tested for coliforms and E.
coli before being returned to use.
(c) Freezing point depressants and other
chemical additives when used in recirculating cooling water systems:
1. Must be non-toxic under conditions of
use.
2. Propylene glycol and all
additives must be either USP Grade, Food Grade or generally-recognized-as-safe
(GRAS).
(d) To determine
if recirculated cooling water samples have been taken at the frequency
established in this Rule, the interval must include the designated six (6)
month period plus the remaining days of the month in which the sample is
due.
(3)
Temperature Recording Device. All farm tanks manufactured after
January 1, 2000, must be equipped with an approved temperature recording
device.
(a) The device must be:
1. Installed in an area convenient to the
bulk tank.
2. The sensor must be
located to permit the registering of the temperature of the contents when the
tank contains no more than twenty (20)% of its capacity.
3. Operated continuously.
4. Maintained in a proper functioning
manner.
5. Circular charts must not
overlap.
6. Must be verified every
six (6) months and documented in a manner acceptable to the
Department.
7. Records must be kept
on premise for review for a minimum of six (6) months.
(b) Recording charts must properly identify:
1. The producer,
2. The date installed on the recorder,
and
3. The initials of the person
installing the chart.
(4)
Appropriate Refrigeration.
(a) No process or manipulation other than
appropriate refrigeration can be applied to raw milk for human consumption for
the purpose of removing or deactivating microorganisms.
(b) All finished, processed, and packaged raw
milk for human consumption must be maintained at 7ºC (45ºF) or less
after processing, during storage, and during transportation.
Notes
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