Chemicals and poisonous materials: practice questions
21 questions on chemicals and poisonous materials, each with the FDA Food Code section it comes from.
1. Where should poisonous or toxic materials be located in relation to food, equipment, utensils, linens, and single-service articles?
Answer: In an area that is not above these items. The code requires that toxic materials be placed below or beside food and supplies, never directly above them, to prevent accidental contamination from drips or spills.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-201.11: “Locating the POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS in an area that is not above FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE or SINGLEUSE ARTICLES.”
2. How should poisonous or toxic materials be separated from food and supplies to prevent contamination?
Answer: By spacing or partitioning. Physical separation through spacing or partitions ensures that chemicals do not come into direct contact with food or clean items.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-201.11: “Separating the POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS by spacing or partitioning;”
3. Under what condition may equipment and utensil cleaners and sanitizers be stored in warewashing areas?
Answer: If they are stored to prevent contamination of food and supplies. Cleaners and sanitizers can be kept near sinks for convenience, provided they are arranged so they do not contaminate nearby items.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-201.11: “This paragraph does not apply to EQUIPMENT and UTENSIL cleaners and SANITIZERS that are stored in WAREWASHING areas for availability and convenience if the materials are stored to prevent contamination of FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES.”
4. Which types of poisonous or toxic materials are permitted to be stored inside a food establishment for operational purposes?
Answer: Only materials required for cleaning equipment, sanitizing utensils, and controlling pests. The code restricts stored chemicals to those specifically needed for cleaning, sanitizing, and pest control within the establishment.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-202.11: “Only those POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS that are required for the operation and maintenance of a FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, such as for the cleaning and SANITIZING of EQUIPMENT and UTENSILS and the control of insects and rodents, shall be allowed in a FOOD ESTABLISHMENT.”
5. How does the restriction on storing poisonous materials apply to packaged goods intended for retail sale?
Answer: Packaged poisonous materials for retail sale are exempt from the operational storage restriction. Materials packaged for retail sale are excluded from the restriction limiting stored chemicals to operational needs.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-202.11: “Paragraph (A) of this section does not apply to PACKAGED POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS that are for retail sale.”
6. Which regulatory standard must chemical sanitizers applied to food-contact surfaces meet?
Answer: Requirements specified in 40 CFR 180.940 for antimicrobial formulations. The code mandates that sanitizers meet the tolerance exemption requirements found in this specific federal regulation.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-204.11: “Meet the requirements specified in 40 CFR 180.940 Tolerance exemptions for active and inert ingredients for use in antimicrobial formulations (Food-contact surface sanitizing solutions)”
7. What is an alternative regulatory compliance path for chemical sanitizers used on food-contact surfaces?
Answer: Meeting requirements in 40 CFR 180.2020 for pesticide chemicals not requiring tolerance. Section 7-204.11 allows sanitizers to comply by meeting the specific nonfood determination standards outlined in this CFR section.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-204.11: “Meet the requirements as specified in 40 CFR 180.2020 Pesticide Chemicals Not Requiring a Tolerance or Exemption from Tolerance-Nonfood determinations.”
8. Which of the following criteria must a chemical meet to be legally used for washing or peeling raw, whole fruits and vegetables?
Answer: It must be an approved food additive listed for this intended use in 21 CFR 173. The regulation requires that chemicals used for washing or peeling produce be approved food additives listed in the specified federal regulation.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-204.12: “Chemicals, including those generated on-site, used to wash or peel raw, whole fruits and vegetables or used in the treatment, storage, and processing of fruits and vegetables shall: (A) Be an approved food additive listed for this intended use in 21 CFR 173,”
9. If a chemical used for processing fruits and vegetables is not listed as an approved food additive, what alternative status can it hold to be compliant?
Answer: It must be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for this intended use. The code allows chemicals to be compliant if they are generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for the specific intended use.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-204.12: “Be generally recognized as safe (GRAS) for this intended use,”
10. What additional requirement applies to chemicals used for washing fruits and vegetables regarding their labeling?
Answer: They must meet the requirements in 40 CFR 156 Labeling Requirements for Pesticide and Devices. The regulation mandates that these chemicals must comply with specific federal labeling requirements for pesticides and devices.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-204.12: “Meet the requirements in 40 CFR 156 Labeling Requirements for Pesticide and Devices.”
11. When applying a pesticide in a food establishment, how should a worker protect food, equipment, and utensils from contamination such as drip, drain, fog, splash, or spray?
Answer: By removing the items or covering them with impermeable covers. The code specifies that contamination is prevented by removing items, covering them with impermeable covers, or taking other appropriate preventive actions.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-202.12: “Removing the items, P (b) Covering the items with impermeable covers, P or (c) Taking other appropriate preventive actions”
12. Who is authorized to apply a restricted use pesticide according to the conditions of use?
Answer: An applicator certified as defined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Restricted use pesticides must be applied by a certified applicator or someone under their direct supervision.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-202.12: “A restricted USE PESTICIDE shall be applied only by an applicator certified as defined in 7 USC 136 Definitions, (e) Certified Applicator, of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, or a PERSON under the direct supervision of a certified applicator.”
13. What must be done to equipment and utensils after applying poisonous or toxic materials?
Answer: Clean and sanitize them. The code requires cleaning and sanitizing equipment and utensils after the application of poisonous or toxic materials.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-202.12: “Cleaning and SANITIZING EQUIPMENT and UTENSILS after the application.”
14. How must poisonous or toxic materials be used in a food establishment?
Answer: According to the manufacturer's use directions included in labeling. Materials must be used according to the law, the code, and the manufacturer's use directions found on the label.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-202.12: “Used according to: (1) LAW and this Code, (2) Manufacturer's use directions included in labeling”
15. When selecting a lubricant for bearings and gears located within food-contact surfaces, what specific regulatory standard must the lubricant meet?
Answer: It must meet the requirements specified in 21 CFR 178.3570. The code mandates that lubricants used in these specific mechanical areas must comply with the federal standard 21 CFR 178.3570.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-205.11: “Lubricants shall meet the requirements specified in 21 CFR 178.3570 Lubricants with incidental food contact, if they are used on FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES, on bearings and gears located on or within FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES, or on bearings and gears that are located so that lubricants may leak, drip, or be forced into FOOD or onto FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES.”
16. When selecting a drying agent to use with a chemical sanitizing solution, what specific approval criterion must the agent meet?
Answer: It must be approved specifically for use with chemical sanitizing solutions. The code requires that drying agents used with chemical sanitizers have approval specifically tailored for that combination, rather than just general food-contact approval.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-204.14: “When SANITIZATION is with chemicals, the approval required under Subparagraph (A)(5) or (A)(7) of this section or the regulation as an indirect FOOD ADDITIVE required under Subparagraph (A)(6) of this section, shall be specifically for use with chemical SANITIZING solutions.”
17. How must refrigerated medicines belonging to employees or children be stored within a food refrigerator?
Answer: In a package or container inside a covered, leakproof container identified for medicines. Medicines must be kept in a specific covered and leakproof container to protect them and distinguish them from food.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-207.12: “Stored in a package or container and kept inside a covered, leakproof container that is identified as a container for the storage of medicines;”
18. What is the required placement for refrigerated medicines stored in a food refrigerator at a day care center?
Answer: Located so they are inaccessible to children. The code specifically requires that medicines be placed where children cannot reach them to ensure safety.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-207.12: “Located so they are inaccessible to children.”
19. Where should medicines intended for employee use be located within a food establishment?
Answer: In a location that prevents contamination of food, equipment, and utensils. The code requires medicines to be placed specifically so they do not contaminate food or service items.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-207.11: “Medicines that are in a FOOD ESTABLISHMENT for the EMPLOYEES' use shall be labeled as specified under § 7-101.11 and located to prevent the contamination of FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES.”
20. How should poisonous or toxic materials be positioned relative to food, equipment, and utensils to prevent contamination?
Answer: They must be located in an area that is not above food, equipment, utensils, linens, and single-service articles. Toxic materials should not be placed above food items to prevent drips or spills from contaminating them.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-301.11: “Locating the POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS in an area that is not above FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE or SINGLEUSE ARTICLES.”
21. What method is specified for separating poisonous or toxic materials from food and equipment?
Answer: Separating them by spacing or partitioning. Physical separation through spacing or partitions helps keep chemicals away from food contact surfaces.
FDA Food Code 2022, § 7-301.11: “Separating the POISONOUS or TOXIC MATERIALS by spacing or partitioning;”