California · Health and Safety Code - HSC

HSC §114037: (a) Except as specified in subdivision (b), refrigerated, potentially hazardous food may be at a temperature of 45°F or below when received, if the potentially hazardous food is cooled within four hou

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(a) Except as specified in subdivision (b), refrigerated, potentially hazardous food may be at a temperature of 45°F or below when received, if the potentially hazardous food is cooled within four hours of receipt to a temperature at or below 41°F. (b) If a temperature other than 41°F for a potentially hazardous food is specified in law governing its distribution, the food may be received at the specified temperature and cooled as specified in subdivisions (d) and (e) of Section 114002. (c) Live molluscan shellfish shall not be accepted unless received at an internal temperature of 45°F or below, or, if received on the date of harvest, at a temperature above 45°F. (d) Potentially hazardous food that is received hot shall be at a temperature of 135ºF or above. (e) A food that is labeled frozen and shipped frozen by a food processing plant shall be received frozen and accepted only if there are not visible signs of thawing or refreezing. (f) Upon receipt, potentially hazardous food shall be free of evidence of previous temperature abuse.

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