Florida Violation V07: No bare hand contact
Violation V07 — No bare hand contact — is classified as a high priority violation in Florida's food safety code under the Food Handling category.
Reference: 61C-4.023(3), FDA Food Code 3-301.11
What the Code Says
V07 — No bare hand contact
Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food
— Florida Administrative Code 61C-4, FDA Food Code
Why This Matters
DIRECT CONTAMINATION: Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food is the primary transmission route for Norovirus (20 million US cases/year), Hepatitis A, and Staphylococcus aureus. Even freshly washed hands carry 80+ bacterial species. Ready-to-eat food receives no subsequent kill step — any pathogens transferred are consumed directly. CDC identifies this as a leading cause of foodborne outbreaks.
CDC Risk Factor Classification: Poor Personal Hygiene - CDC Risk Factor #5
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 2014, a Florida restaurant worker diagnosed with Hepatitis A continued handling food without disclosure, potentially exposing hundreds of customers. The Florida DOH issued a public health alert and offered free vaccinations to patrons who had eaten at the establishment.
Source: CDC — Hepatitis A Information
Code Requirements
NO bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food. Use: single-use gloves (change hourly and between tasks), tongs, spatulas, spoons, deli tissue, or dispensing equipment. Wash hands BEFORE donning gloves. Gloves are not a substitute for handwashing. Document no-bare-hand-contact policy and train all food handlers.
References
- Florida DBPR Division of Hotels & Restaurants
- FDA Food Code (Current Edition)
- CDC Food Safety
- CDC: Contributing Factors to Foodborne Illness Outbreaks
- Florida Administrative Code Chapter 61C-4
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Florida food safety violation V07?
- Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food This is classified as a high priority violation under the Food Handling category.
- Why is violation V07 (No bare hand contact) dangerous?
- DIRECT CONTAMINATION: Bare hand contact with ready-to-eat food is the primary transmission route for Norovirus (20 million US cases/year), Hepatitis A, and Staphylococcus aureus. Even freshly washed hands carry 80+ bacterial species. Ready-to-eat food receives no subsequent kill step — any pathoge...
- What CDC risk factor does this violation fall under?
- This violation is classified under: Poor Personal Hygiene - CDC Risk Factor #5.
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.