FDACS Citation 4-603.12: Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or

Overview

FDACS citation 4-603.12 (Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or) is a General violation under Chapter 4 (Equipment, Utensils, and Linens) of the FDA Food Code, with 3 citations in the past 12 months across 12 Florida facilities. General food safety requirement.

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

GeneralPriority Level
Ch. 4Equipment, Utensils, and Linens
3Citations (12 mo)
13Total Citations
12Facilities Cited

Under Florida FDACS inspection rules, citation 4-603.12 (Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or) is a general violation addressing Equipment, Utensils, and Linens standards.

What the Code Says

4-603.12 — Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or

Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or
garbage receptacle, or not removed in a warewashing machine with a prewash cycle; or utensils and
equipment not preflushed, presoaked, or scrubbed with abrasives when necessary for effective cleaning.

— 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 4-603.12 citations
CountyCitations
Nassau2
Pinellas2
Columbia1

Most Cited Facilities

Florida FDACS facilities most cited for 4-603.12
FacilityCityTimes CitedLast Cited
Circle K # 6109 Callahan 2 Sep 10, 2024
Rocky Road Rascals Lake City 1 Jan 7, 2026
Publix # 1088 Tampa 1 Nov 14, 2025
Target # 2040 Tampa 1 Jan 17, 2025

Recent Inspector Observations

Rocky Road Rascals, Lake City—

Hardee's Kitchen: Old labels stuck to pans stored on clean dish storage rack.Deli: Old labels stuck to pans stored on clean dish storage rack.

Publix # 1088, Tampa—

Seafood Department: Sticker label on food contact-surface of ice scoop. COS: Sticker removed and utensils properly cleaned and sanitized.

Target # 2040, Tampa—

Warewashing Area: Observed old date mark stickers on outside of whipping cream containers stored as clean.

Circle K # 6109, Callahan—

Retail: Residue from old date marking labels remains on exterior of plastic food storage containers.

Frequently Cited Alongside 4-603.12

3-501.16(A)(2)

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

7 co-citations

6-501.11

Physical facilities not maintained in good repair

7 co-citations

6-501.12

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

7 co-citations

4-903.11(A)

Single-service or single-use articles not stored in a clean, dry location; at least 6

6 co-citations

5-205.15(B)

Plumbing system not maintained in good repair

6 co-citations

4-602.13

Nonfood-contact surface of equipment not cleaned at a frequency necessary to

6 co-citations

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is FDACS citation code 4-603.12?
FDACS citation 4-603.12 (Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or) is a General violation under Chapter 4 (Equipment, Utensils, and Linens) of the FDA Food Code. Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or garbage receptacle, or not removed in a warewashing machine with a prewash cycle; or utensils and equipment not preflushed, presoaked, or scrubbed with abrasives when necessary for effective cleaning.
How serious is FDACS violation 4-603.12 (Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or)?
General (General): General food safety requirement. This code has been cited 13 times across 12 Florida FDACS-regulated facilities.
Which types of Florida food businesses receive citation 4-603.12?
FDACS inspects grocery stores, convenience stores, bakeries, food manufacturers, mobile vendors, and vending machines. Citation 4-603.12 (Food debris on equipment and utensils not scrapped over a waste disposal unit or) has been cited at 12 such facilities across Florida, with 3 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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