Florida Violation V11: Food in good condition

High PrioritySeverity
Food QualityCategory
1,776Citations (12 mo)
Codes 01–28Classification

Under Florida's food safety regulations, V11 (Food in good condition) is a high priority violation addressing Food Quality standards.

Reference: 61C-4.010, FDA Food Code 3-101

What the Code Says

V11 — Food in good condition

Food in poor condition, mislabeled, or adulterated

— Florida Administrative Code 61C-4, FDA Food Code

Why This Matters

FOOD QUALITY HAZARD: Food in poor condition — spoiled, contaminated, mislabeled, or adulterated — can cause foodborne illness, allergic reactions, or poisoning. Spoiled food may contain dangerous levels of histamine (causes scombroid poisoning from fish), Listeria (grows during refrigeration), or toxin-producing molds. Mislabeled food can trigger fatal allergic reactions in sensitive individuals.

CDC Risk Factor Classification: Food from Unsafe Sources - CDC Risk Factor #1

The CDC identifies five major contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks: food from unsafe sources, inadequate cooking, improper holding temperatures, contaminated equipment, and poor personal hygiene. Source: CDC Contributing Factors

Real-World Impact

In 2015, a multistate Salmonella outbreak linked to imported cucumbers sickened 907 people across 40 states, resulting in 6 deaths. The FDA found the produce had been held under conditions that allowed bacterial growth before reaching retail stores. Receiving and storing food in good condition is critical to preventing such outbreaks.

Source: CDC MMWR — Salmonella Poona Outbreak, 2015

Code Requirements

Inspect all food upon delivery and regularly during storage. Reject food that is: spoiled, damaged, at incorrect temperature, past expiration, improperly labeled, or from unverified sources. Date-mark all ready-to-eat TCS foods — use within 7 days if held at 41°F or below. Discard any food of questionable quality.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Florida food safety violation V11?
Food in poor condition, mislabeled, or adulterated This is classified as a high priority violation under the Food Quality category.
Why is violation V11 (Food in good condition) dangerous?
FOOD QUALITY HAZARD: Food in poor condition — spoiled, contaminated, mislabeled, or adulterated — can cause foodborne illness, allergic reactions, or poisoning. Spoiled food may contain dangerous levels of histamine (causes scombroid poisoning from fish), Listeria (grows during refrigeration), o...
What CDC risk factor does this violation fall under?
This violation is classified under: Food from Unsafe Sources - CDC Risk Factor #1.

Data source: Florida DBPR public inspection records. Health risk information sourced from CDC, FDA Food Code, and peer-reviewed research. How we collect and verify this data.