FDACS Citation 3-501.17(B): Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and

Overview

FDACS citation 3-501.17(B) (Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and) is a Priority Foundation violation under Chapter 3 (Food) of the FDA Food Code, with 230 citations in the past 12 months across 1,303 Florida facilities. Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures.

Sourced from Florida FDACS public inspection records, Jan 2022–present.

Priority FoundationPriority Level
Ch. 3Food
230Citations (12 mo)
1,377Total Citations
1,303Facilities Cited

Citation 3-501.17(B) — Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and — is classified as a priority foundation violation under Florida FDACS inspection standards in the Food chapter.

What the Code Says

3-501.17(B) — Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and

Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and
packaged by a food processing plant not clearly marked, when opened onsite and held for more than 24
hours, to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed, sold, or discarded when held at
41°F or less for a maximum of 7 days; or the day the original container is opened onsite not counted as day
1.

— FDA Food Code / Florida FDACS Inspection Standards (FAC 5K-4)

Priority Classification

Priority Foundation (Pf): Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures.

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

Florida counties with the most 3-501.17(B) citations
CountyCitations
Miami-Dade98
Palm Beach83
Pinellas66
Polk38
Pasco37
Sarasota36

Most Cited Facilities

Florida FDACS facilities most cited for 3-501.17(B)
FacilityCityTimes CitedLast Cited
Fadded Ape 9318 Tampa 3 Nov 4, 2025
Delana's Nutrition Center Pompano Beach 3 Aug 11, 2025
Seven Brothers Foodmart Lakeland 2 Mar 31, 2026
Shop N Go Webster 2 Mar 30, 2026
Sushi With Gusto Boca Raton 2 Feb 23, 2026
El Tesoro Supermarket Hialeah 2 Feb 20, 2026
Galafresh Farms Lake Worth 2 Feb 17, 2026
Jupiter Donuts Lake Worth 2 Dec 17, 2025

Recent Inspector Observations

Tealux Cafe Tampa, Tampa—

Front food service area: No date marking on crab sticks, fish balls, and spam opened more than 24 hours prior in display cooler. No date marking on half and half opened more than 24 hours prior in teas reach-in cooler. COS: All mentioned foods were date marked. x

Beach Bum Bagels, Vero Beach—

Kitchen- Milk in reach in cooler, opened more than 24 hours ago was not properly date marked. Retail- Milk and Half & Half in reach in cooler, opened more then 24 hours was not properly date marked. COS- Items were properly date marked by management during inspection.

Gemstone Gh LLC, Zephyrhills—

Retail area: Coffee creamer (french Vanilla and Half and half ) held open more than 24 hours in bulk creamer dispenser not labeled with date they were open. COS: Employee wrote correct date on Coffee creamer.

Mudslide Coffee, Punta Gorda—

Service area, open sliced deli meats missing proper date marking. Cos, date of opening determined to be in compliance and added to products x

The Cheesecake Lab, Tampa—

Processing area: Milk opened 24 hours prior not date marked in reach-in cooler. COS: Milk was date marked. x Print Date: 4/1/2026 Page 1 of 3 24 Pf o Citation Description: Establishment does not have written procedures for employees to follow when responding to an event that involves the discharge of vomitus or diarrhea onto surfaces at the food establishment, or procedures do not address specific actions employees must take to minimize the spread of contamination and the exposure of employees, consumers, food, and surfaces to vomitus or fecal matter. 2-501.11 Pf Observation: No written procedures for responding to a vomiting or diarrheal event. Information regarding written procedures provided to the person in charge.

Dunkin Donuts # Pc 330235, Deland—

Milk reach in cooler: Gallon of milk stated to have been opened the previous morning did not have the date of opening of product. COS: Date of opening applied to gallon of milk. x

Frequently Cited Alongside 3-501.17(B)

6-501.11

Physical facilities not maintained in good repair

880 co-citations

2-501.11

Establishment does not have written procedures for employees to follow when

598 co-citations

3-501.16(A)(2)

Cold held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 41°F or below

512 co-citations

6-501.12

Physical facilities not cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean, or cleaning

437 co-citations

5-205.11

Handwashing sink not maintained so that it is accessible at all times for employee

429 co-citations

3-501.16(A)(1)

Hot held time/temperature control for safety food not maintained at 135°F or above,

419 co-citations

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FDACS citation code 3-501.17(B)?
FDACS citation 3-501.17(B) (Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and) is a Priority Foundation violation under Chapter 3 (Food) of the FDA Food Code. Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and packaged by a food processing plant not clearly marked, when opened onsite and held for more than 24 hours, to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed, sold, or discarded when held at 41°F or less for a maximum of 7 days; or the day the original container is opened onsite not counted as day 1.
How serious is FDACS violation 3-501.17(B) (Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and)?
Priority Foundation (Pf): Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures. This code has been cited 1377 times across 1,303 Florida FDACS-regulated facilities.
Which types of Florida food businesses receive citation 3-501.17(B)?
FDACS inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines. Citation 3-501.17(B) (Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and) has been cited at 1,303 such facilities across Florida, with 230 citations in the past 12 months.
What does a Priority Foundation FDACS violation mean?
A Priority Foundation FDACS violation means: Supports Priority items. Failure to meet these facilitates food safety failures. 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.

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