Florida Violation V21: Time as control

High PrioritySeverity
Food SafetyCategory
2,048Citations (12 mo)
Codes 01–28Classification

Florida DBPR violation V21 (Time as control) is a high priority food safety violation classified under Food Safety.

Reference: 61C-4.010(4)(e), FDA Food Code 3-501.19

What the Code Says

V21 — Time as control

Time as a public health control not properly used

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

Why This Matters

TIME ABUSE: When time is used as a public health control (instead of temperature), food is allowed to remain in the temperature danger zone for a limited period. Without proper written procedures, documentation, and disposal protocols, food may be served after unsafe time periods. Bacteria reach dangerous levels after 4 hours at room temperature — causing Staphylococcal intoxication, Salmonellosis, and C. perfringens illness.

CDC Risk Factor Classification: Improper Holding/Time & Temperature - CDC Risk Factor #3

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 2019, a Florida restaurant using time as a public health control failed to properly mark food items with discard times. Inspectors found sushi rice that had been at room temperature for over 6 hours with no time stamp. When food is held without temperature control, it must be discarded within 4 hours to prevent bacterial growth.

Source: FDA Food Code — Time as a Public Health Control

Code Requirements

If using time as a control: develop written procedures, mark food with discard time (4 hours from removal, or 6 hours if starting at 41°F and not exceeding 70°F), monitor and document. Food must be discarded at marked time — no exceptions. Staff must be trained on procedures. Time as control is NOT appropriate for all foods.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Florida food safety violation V21?
Time as a public health control not properly used This is classified as a high priority violation under the Food Safety category.
Why is violation V21 (Time as control) dangerous?
TIME ABUSE: When time is used as a public health control (instead of temperature), food is allowed to remain in the temperature danger zone for a limited period. Without proper written procedures, documentation, and disposal protocols, food may be served after unsafe time periods. Bacteria reach dan...
What CDC risk factor does this violation fall under?
This violation is classified under: Improper Holding/Time & Temperature - CDC Risk Factor #3.

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.