Florida Violation V12: Shell stock requirements

High PrioritySeverity
Food SourceCategory
3,410Citations (12 mo)
Codes 01–28Classification

Florida DBPR violation V12 (Shell stock requirements) is a high priority food safety violation classified under Food Source.

Reference: 61C-4.010(7), FDA Food Code 3-203.12

What the Code Says

V12 — Shell stock requirements

Inadequate shell stock identification/records

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

Why This Matters

SHELLFISH TRACEABILITY: Shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) are high-risk foods consumed raw or lightly cooked. Without proper identification tags, contaminated shellfish cannot be traced during outbreaks. Vibrio vulnificus from Gulf shellfish has a 50% fatality rate in at-risk populations. Norovirus in shellfish causes 50% of shellfish-related illnesses. Proper tags enable rapid recall during outbreaks.

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 2019, a Vibrio vulnificus outbreak in Florida was traced to oysters served at a raw bar that could not produce shellfish harvest tags. Without proper documentation, investigators could not identify the contaminated harvest area for 3 days, allowing additional contaminated oysters to reach consumers.

Source: CDC — Vibrio Species and Shellfish Safety

Code Requirements

Maintain shellfish tags for 90 days from date of sale/service. Tags must include: harvester name and certification number, harvest date and location, quantity, dealer information. Store shellfish in original tagged container until empty. Record date on each container when last shell is removed. Never commingle shellfish from different lots.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Florida food safety violation V12?
Inadequate shell stock identification/records This is classified as a high priority violation under the Food Source category.
Why is violation V12 (Shell stock requirements) dangerous?
SHELLFISH TRACEABILITY: Shellfish (oysters, clams, mussels) are high-risk foods consumed raw or lightly cooked. Without proper identification tags, contaminated shellfish cannot be traced during outbreaks. Vibrio vulnificus from Gulf shellfish has a 50% fatality rate in at-risk populations. Noroviru...
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.