N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.16.77 - FOOD SERVICE - GENERAL

A. The facility shall have a kitchen or dietary area which shall be adequate to meet food service needs and shall be arranged and equipped for the refrigeration, storage and preparation, and serving of food, as well as for dish and utensil cleaning and refuse storage and removal.

B. Dietary areas shall comply with the local health or food handling codes. Food preparation space shall be arranged for the separation of functions and shall be located to permit efficient services to residents and shall not be used for non-dietary functions.

(1) Kitchen and dietary: Kitchen and dietary facilities shall be provided to meet food service needs and arranged and equipped for proper refrigeration, heating, storage, preparation, and serving of food. Adequate space shall be provided for proper refuse handling and washing of waste receptacles, and for storage of cleaning components.

(2) Traffic: Only traffic incidental to the receiving, preparation and serving of food and drink shall be permitted.

(3) Toilets: No toilet facilities may open directly into the kitchen.

(4) Food storage: Food day-storage space shall be provided adjacent to the kitchen and shall be ventilated to the outside.

(5) Handwashing: A separate handwashing sink with soap dispenser, single service towel dispenser, or other approved hand drying facility shall be located in the kitchen.

(6) Dishwashing: A separate dishwashing area, preferably a separate room, with mechanical ventilation shall be provided.

(7) Sink: At least a three-compartment sink shall be provided for washing, rinsing and sanitizing utensils, with adequate drainboards, at each end. In addition, a single-compartment sink located adjacent to the soiled utensil drainboard shall be available for prewashing. The additional sink may also be used for liquid waste disposal. The size of each sink compartment shall be adequate to permit immersion of at least fifty percent of the largest utensil used. In lieu of the additional sink for prewashing, a well type garbage disposal with overhead spray wash may be provided.

(8) Mechanical dishwashers: Mechanical dishwashers and utensil washers, where provided, shall meet the requirements of the current approved list from the national sanitation foundation or equivalent with approval of the authority.

(9) Temperature: Temperature gauges shall be located in the wash compartment of all mechanical dishwashers and in the rinse water line at the machine of a spray-type mechanical dishwasher or in the rinse water tank of in immersion-type dishwasher. The temperature gauges shall be readily visible, fast-acting and accurate to plus or minus two degrees fahrenheit or one degree celsius.

(10) Fire extinguishers: Approved automatic fire extinguishing equipment shall be provided in hoods and attached ducts above all food cooking equipment.

(11) Walls: The walls shall be of plaster or equivalent material with smooth, light - colored, non-absorbent, and washable surface.

(12) Ceiling: The ceiling shall be of plaster or equivalent material with smooth, light-colored, non-absorbent, washable, and seamless surface.

(13) Floors: The floors of all rooms, except the eating areas of dining rooms, in which food or drink is stored, prepared, or served, or in which utensils are washed, shall be of such construction as to be non-absorbent and easily cleaned.

(14) Screens: All room openings to the out - of-doors shall be effectively screened. Screen doors shall be self-closing.

(15) Lighting: All rooms in which food or drink is stored or prepared or in which utensils are washed shall be well lighted.

(16) Sewage contamination: Rooms subject to sewage or wastewater backflow or to condensation or leakage from overhead water or wastelines shall not be used for storage of food preparation unless provided with acceptable protection from such contamination.

Notes

N.M. Admin. Code § 8.370.16.77

Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXV, Issue 12, June 25, 2024, eff. 7/1/2024