FDACS Citation 4-204.12: Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain

Overview

FDACS citation 4-204.12 (Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain) is a General violation under Chapter 4 (Equipment, Utensils, and Linens) of the FDA Food Code, with 1 citations in the past 12 months across 4 Florida facilities. General food safety requirement.

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

GeneralPriority Level
Ch. 4Equipment, Utensils, and Linens
1Citations (12 mo)
4Total Citations
4Facilities Cited

Citation 4-204.12 — Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain — is classified as a general violation under Florida FDACS inspection standards in the Equipment, Utensils, and Linens chapter.

What the Code Says

4-204.12 — Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain

Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain.
Opening located within the top of a unit of equipment that is designed for use with a cover or lid not flanged
upward at least two-tenths of an inch. Fixed piping, temperature measuring devices, rotary shafts, or other
parts extending into equipment not provided with a watertight joint at the point where the item enters the
equipment, or watertight joint not provided and not equipped with an apron designed to deflect
condensation, drips and dust from openings into the food or opening not flanged upward at least two-tenths
of an inch.

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

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

Florida counties with the most 4-204.12 citations
CountyCitations
Palm Beach2

Most Cited Facilities

Florida FDACS facilities most cited for 4-204.12
FacilityCityTimes CitedLast Cited
Trader Joe's #772 Palm Beach Gardens 1 Jul 29, 2025
Publix # 0371 West Palm Beach 1 May 14, 2024
Hershels Quick Stop LLC Otter Creek 1 Jun 30, 2022

Recent Inspector Observations

Trader Joe's #772, Palm Beach Gardens—

Retail- Open coolers have condensation along top of equipment and over prepackaged food

Hershels Quick Stop LLC, Otter Creek—

Kitchen; Reach in cooler not maintaining food at 41 or below. Ambient reading on unit at 48-50 F o

Frequently Cited Alongside 4-204.12

2-103.11(O)

Person in charge does not ensure food employees and conditional employees are

2 co-citations

6-501.11

Physical facilities not maintained in good repair

2 co-citations

6-202.15

Outer opening not protected against the entry of insects and rodents by filling or

2 co-citations

6-501.12

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

2 co-citations

5-501.11

Receptacles and waste handling units for refuse, recyclables, and returnables not

2 co-citations

4-203.12

Ambient air and water temperature measuring device scaled in Celsius or dually

2 co-citations

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FDACS citation code 4-204.12?
FDACS citation 4-204.12 (Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain) is a General violation under Chapter 4 (Equipment, Utensils, and Linens) of the FDA Food Code. Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain. Opening located within the top of a unit of equipment that is designed for use with a cover or lid not flanged upward at least two-tenths of an inch. Fixed piping, temperature measuring devices, rotary shafts, or other parts extending into equipment not provided with a watertight joint at the point where the item enters the equipment, or watertight joint not provided and not equipped with an apron designed to deflect condensation, drips and dust from openings into the food or opening not flanged upward at least two-tenths of an inch.
How serious is FDACS violation 4-204.12 (Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain)?
General (General): General food safety requirement. This code has been cited 4 times across 4 Florida FDACS-regulated facilities.
Which types of Florida food businesses receive citation 4-204.12?
FDACS inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines. Citation 4-204.12 (Cover or lid for equipment does not overlap the opening or is not sloped to drain) has been cited at 4 such facilities across Florida, with 1 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.

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