Florida Violation V13: Parasite destruction

High PrioritySeverity
Food SafetyCategory
1,570Citations (12 mo)
Codes 01–28Classification

Violation V13 — Parasite destruction — is classified as a high priority violation in Florida's food safety code under the Food Safety category.

Reference: 61C-4.010(6), FDA Food Code 3-402.11

What the Code Says

V13 — Parasite destruction

Parasite destruction procedures not followed

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

Why This Matters

PARASITE SURVIVAL: Without proper freezing or cooking, parasites in fish (Anisakis, tapeworm), pork (Trichinella), and wild game survive to infect consumers. Anisakis larvae in raw sushi cause severe abdominal pain and allergic reactions. Tapeworm cysts in undercooked pork/beef grow into 15-30 foot worms in intestines. Proper freezing (-4°F for 7 days) kills parasites.

CDC Risk Factor Classification: Inadequate Cooking - CDC Risk Factor #2

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 sushi restaurant chain was linked to an Anisakis parasitic infection outbreak after serving undercooked wild salmon that had not been frozen to the required temperature. The FDA Food Code requires fish intended for raw consumption to be frozen at -4 degrees F for 7 days to destroy parasites.

Source: FDA — Selecting and Serving Seafood Safely

Code Requirements

Fish intended for raw consumption (sushi, sashimi, ceviche, tartare) must be frozen to -4°F for 7 days, or -31°F for 15 hours before service. Exception: tuna species and aquacultured fish fed processed feed. Pork and wild game must reach minimum internal cooking temperature. Document all freezing records.

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Florida food safety violation V13?
Parasite destruction procedures not followed This is classified as a high priority violation under the Food Safety category.
Why is violation V13 (Parasite destruction) dangerous?
PARASITE SURVIVAL: Without proper freezing or cooking, parasites in fish (Anisakis, tapeworm), pork (Trichinella), and wild game survive to infect consumers. Anisakis larvae in raw sushi cause severe abdominal pain and allergic reactions. Tapeworm cysts in undercooked pork/beef grow into 15-30 foot ...
What CDC risk factor does this violation fall under?
This violation is classified under: Inadequate Cooking - CDC Risk Factor #2.

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.