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Florida Violation V49: Non-food contact surfaces
Violation V49 (Non-food contact surfaces) is a Basic food safety violation in the Equipment category with 33 citations in the past 12 months. INDIRECT CONTAMINATION: Non-food contact surfaces (walls, ceilings, floors, equipment exteriors, shelving) that are not properly maintained accumulate grease, food debris, and moisture that attract pests and harbor bacteria.
Summary generated from Florida DBPR public inspection records and CDC food safety data.
Violation V49 — Non-food contact surfaces — is classified as a basic violation in Florida's food safety code under the Equipment category.
Reference: 61C-4.019(8), FDA Food Code 6-501
What the Code Says
V49 — Non-food contact surfaces
Non-food contact surfaces not properly maintained
— Florida Administrative Code 61C-4, FDA Food Code
Why This Matters
INDIRECT CONTAMINATION: Non-food contact surfaces (walls, ceilings, floors, equipment exteriors, shelving) that are not properly maintained accumulate grease, food debris, and moisture that attract pests and harbor bacteria. Employees touch these surfaces then food. Dirty conditions create a reservoir of contamination that spreads throughout the facility over time.
CDC Risk Factor Classification: Environmental Contamination - Surface Maintenance
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
Code Requirements
Keep all non-food contact surfaces clean, in good repair, and free of unnecessary items. Clean equipment exteriors, shelving, walls, and floors regularly. Repair or replace surfaces that are cracked, chipped, or corroded. Maintain in a condition that does not contribute to contamination of food or food contact surfaces.
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 V49?
- Florida DBPR violation V49 (Non-food contact surfaces) is a Basic violation in the Equipment category. Non-food contact surfaces not properly maintained
- Why is violation V49 (Non-food contact surfaces) dangerous?
- INDIRECT CONTAMINATION: Non-food contact surfaces (walls, ceilings, floors, equipment exteriors, shelving) that are not properly maintained accumulate grease, food debris, and moisture that attract pests and harbor bacteria. Employees touch these surfaces then food. Dirty conditions create a reservoir of contamination that spreads throughout the facility over time.
- What are the requirements to correct violation V49?
- Keep all non-food contact surfaces clean, in good repair, and free of unnecessary items. Clean equipment exteriors, shelving, walls, and floors regularly. Repair or replace surfaces that are cracked, chipped, or corroded. Maintain in a condition that does not contribute to contamination of food or food contact surfaces.
- What CDC risk factor does violation V49 fall under?
- Violation V49 (Non-food contact surfaces) is classified under: Environmental Contamination - Surface Maintenance. The CDC identifies five major risk factors contributing to foodborne illness outbreaks in food service establishments.
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Editorial Standards & Data Oversight
Data Source: This reference is based on official public inspection records from the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and the FDA Food Code.
Editorial Process: Content generated using AI to synthesize complex regulatory data and CDC food safety research, then reviewed and verified for accuracy by our editorial team.
Disclaimer: Violation descriptions reflect Florida Administrative Code Chapter 61C-4 and the FDA Food Code current at time of publication. Health risk information sourced from CDC, FDA, and peer-reviewed research.
Editor: All content reviewed and verified by Christopher F. Nesbitt, Sr., Nationally Registered EMT & BU-trained Paralegal.
This page is maintained by FloridaFoodSafety.org. How we collect and verify this data.