FDACS Citation 2-301.14: Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before
FDACS citation 2-301.14 (Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before) is a Priority violation under Chapter 2 (Personnel) of the FDA Food Code, with 579 citations in the past 12 months across 1,449 Florida facilities. Directly linked to foodborne illness or injury. Requires immediate corrective action.
Sourced from Florida FDACS public inspection records, Jan 2022–present.
Citation 2-301.14 — Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before — is classified as a priority violation under Florida FDACS inspection standards in the Personnel chapter.
What the Code Says
2-301.14 — Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before
Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before
— FDA Food Code / Florida FDACS Inspection Standards (FAC 5K-4)
engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment or utensils, or
unwrapped single service or single use articles; after touching bare human body parts; after using the toilet
room; after caring for or handling service animals or aquatic animals; after coughing, sneezing, using a
handkerchief or tissue, using tobacco, eating or drinking; after handling soiled equipment or utensils; during
food preparation as often as necessary to remove soil and prevent cross contamination; before donning
gloves to initiate a task that involves working with food; or after engaging in other activities that contaminate
the hands.
Priority Classification
Priority (P): Directly linked to foodborne illness or injury. Requires immediate corrective action.
Florida FDACS uses the FDA Food Code priority system — Priority (P) violations have a direct link to foodborne illness; Priority Foundation (Pf) violations support food safety systems; Core (C) violations are good retail practices with no direct illness link.
Citations by County
| County | Citations |
|---|---|
| Miami-Dade | 162 |
| Pinellas | 95 |
| Palm Beach | 72 |
| St. Johns | 58 |
| Polk | 54 |
| Pasco | 46 |
Most Cited Facilities
| Facility | City | Times Cited | Last Cited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Key Food Supermarket | Apopka | 3 | Feb 24, 2026 |
| Bay Supermarket | Miami | 3 | Jan 6, 2026 |
| J&r Supermarket of Poinciana, INC. | Kissimmee | 3 | Aug 27, 2025 |
| Marathon | Dade City | 3 | Sep 9, 2024 |
| Food Giant # 600 Establishment #: 12421 | Century | 3 | Jul 30, 2024 |
| Presidente Supermarket # 0037 | Mangonia Park | 3 | Jan 4, 2023 |
| Grocery Outlet 7716 | Lynn Haven | 2 | Apr 2, 2026 |
| Bam Bar LLC | New Port Richey | 2 | Mar 30, 2026 |
Recent Inspector Observations
Grocery Outlet 7716, Lynn Haven—
Meat room: Food employee did not wash hands after entering meat room before handling clean equipment. COS: Person in charge asked employee to wash hands. x
Krispy Kreme #161 Lakeland, Lakeland—
Kitchen Area- Observed multiple employees not washing hands between changing task. COS- Addressed with management and observed employees washing their hands when changing tasks during inspection. x
M8m Investments LLC, Mount Dora—
Kitchen : Employee did not wash hands when changing tasks before donning new gloves. COS - Employee was stopped and asked to wash hands before proceeding with tasks. x
Acropolis Meats II INC, Hudson—
Observed employee prepare to don gloves without first washing hands. COS Employee was coached and the employee washed hands , then donned gloves, x
K H Food Mart, Bushnell—
Food service area: Person in charge not washing hands before putting gloves on to begin food service. COS: Employee removed gloves, washed hands appropriately. x
360 Food Store, Lynn Haven—
Kitchen: Employee reached into pocket and handled personal cell phone before donning gloves to handle containers of food and clean utensils. COS: Employee was stopped and washed hands appropriately. x
Frequently Cited Alongside 2-301.14
6-501.11
2-501.11
3-501.16(A)(2)
5-205.11
3-501.16(A)(1)
4-501.11
References
- Florida FDACS Food Establishment Inspections
- FDA Food Code (Current Edition)
- Florida Administrative Code Chapter 5K-4
- All FDACS Citation Codes
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is FDACS citation code 2-301.14?
- FDACS citation 2-301.14 (Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before) is a Priority violation under Chapter 2 (Personnel) of the FDA Food Code. Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment or utensils, or unwrapped single service or single use articles; after touching bare human body parts; after using the toilet room; after caring for or handling service animals or aquatic animals; after coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or tissue, using tobacco, eating or drinking; after handling soiled equipment or utensils; during food preparation as often as necessary to remove soil and prevent cross contamination; before donning gloves to initiate a task that involves working with food; or after engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.
- How serious is FDACS violation 2-301.14 (Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before)?
- Priority (P): Directly linked to foodborne illness or injury. Requires immediate corrective action. This code has been cited 1550 times across 1,449 Florida FDACS-regulated facilities.
- Which types of Florida food businesses receive citation 2-301.14?
- FDACS inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines. Citation 2-301.14 (Food employee not cleaning hands or exposed portions of arms immediately before) has been cited at 1,449 such facilities across Florida, with 579 citations in the past 12 months.
- What does a Priority FDACS violation mean?
- A Priority FDACS violation means: Directly linked to foodborne illness or injury. Requires immediate corrective action. FDACS (Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services) uses this classification system — Priority (P), Priority Foundation (Pf), and Core (C) — aligned with the FDA Food Code.
Editorial Standards & Data Oversight
Data Source: Florida FDACS public inspection records, Jan 2022–present. Exclusive archive — FDACS removes records after 4 years.
Citation Standard: FDA Food Code as adopted by Florida FDACS under Florida Statutes Chapter 500 and FAC 5K-4.
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data and inspection records, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Disclaimer: Citation descriptions reflect the FDA Food Code and Florida FDACS inspection standards current at time of publication.
Editor: All content reviewed and verified by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org. How we collect and verify this data.