FDACS Citation 3-304.12(C)-(F): During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean
FDACS citation 3-304.12(C)-(F) (During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean) is a General violation under Chapter 3 (Food) of the FDA Food Code, with 239 citations in the past 12 months across 600 Florida facilities. General food safety requirement.
Sourced from Florida FDACS public inspection records, Jan 2022–present.
FDACS citation 3-304.12(C)-(F) (During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean) is a general food safety violation under Chapter 3 (Food) of the FDA Food Code.
What the Code Says
3-304.12(C)-(F) — During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean
During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean
— FDA Food Code / Florida FDACS Inspection Standards (FAC 5K-4)
portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment; in running water of sufficient velocity to flush
particles to the drain when used with moist foods; in a clean, protected location when used only with food
that is not time/temperature control for safety food; or in a container of water maintained at 135°F or
greater.
Priority Classification
General (General): General food safety requirement.
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 | 49 |
| Pinellas | 38 |
| Palm Beach | 29 |
| Broward | 21 |
| Polk | 19 |
| St. Johns | 15 |
Most Cited Facilities
| Facility | City | Times Cited | Last Cited |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic Tea & Coffee | Tampa | 3 | May 19, 2025 |
| Bam Bar LLC | New Port Richey | 2 | Mar 30, 2026 |
| Bagelicious Deli and Bakery | Ocala | 2 | Jan 28, 2026 |
| Inglis Food Store | Inglis | 2 | Jan 16, 2026 |
| Sol Bakery | Homestad | 2 | Dec 8, 2025 |
| Eclipse Cafe | Tampa | 2 | Nov 10, 2025 |
| Pine Court Sunrise INC. | Miami Beach | 2 | Oct 27, 2025 |
| Sdr1 Food Corp | Miami | 2 | Oct 9, 2025 |
Recent Inspector Observations
Antojitos Mexicanos Bendicion, Fort Pierce—
Kitchen: utensils stored in standing water with 107 degree F at the steam table. COS utensils moved to stove for water to be over 135 degrees F.
Bam Bar LLC, New Port Richey—
Food Prep Area: Spoons used for mixing drinks stored in standing water. COS: spoons were removed and washed, rinsed and sanitized. Water Was Discarded.
Taqueria Dos Hermanos, Gibsonton—
Meat department: Knives stored between the wall and 3 compartment sink. COS: Utensils were removed.
Tacos Bravo, Tampa—
Retail area: Boiled peanuts scoops stored in stagnant water with an internal temperature of 71 F on customer self-service counter. COS: Scoops placed in dry holder.
Speedway # 6858, Zephyrhills—
Retail area: Spoon for boiled peanuts soiled and stored in room temperature, standing Water in retail drinks station area. COS: Person in charge washed, rinsed and sanitized the spoon.
Foodtown # 0802, West Palm Beach—
Juice bar- utensils stored in container of still water. COS- utensils moved to 3 compartment sink to be washed and sanitized.
Frequently Cited Alongside 3-304.12(C)-(F)
6-501.11
2-501.11
6-501.12
6-301.11
5-501.11
2-102.11(C)(2)-(3)
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 3-304.12(C)-(F)?
- FDACS citation 3-304.12(C)-(F) (During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean) is a General violation under Chapter 3 (Food) of the FDA Food Code. During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean portion of the food preparation table or cooking equipment; in running water of sufficient velocity to flush particles to the drain when used with moist foods; in a clean, protected location when used only with food that is not time/temperature control for safety food; or in a container of water maintained at 135°F or greater.
- How serious is FDACS violation 3-304.12(C)-(F) (During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean)?
- General (General): General food safety requirement. This code has been cited 623 times across 600 Florida FDACS-regulated facilities.
- Which types of Florida food businesses receive citation 3-304.12(C)-(F)?
- FDACS inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines. Citation 3-304.12(C)-(F) (During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, utensil not stored on a clean) has been cited at 600 such facilities across Florida, with 239 citations in the past 12 months.
- What does a General FDACS violation mean?
- A General FDACS violation means: General food safety requirement. 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.