Sec. 2.50. Bottling and packaging—Item 18p

(a) All milk and milk products, including concentrated milk and milk products, are bottled and packaged at the plant where final pasteurization is performed, provided that this requirement shall not apply to frozen desserts. Such bottling and packaging shall be done without undue delay following final pasteurization.

(b) All bottling or packaging is done on approved mechanical equipment. The term approved mechanical equipment shall not be interpreted to exclude manually operated machinery but is interpreted to exclude methods in which the bottling and capping devices are not integral in one system.

(c) Bottling or packaging machines are designed to minimize the need for adjustment during operation. All pipes, connections, defoaming devices and similar appurtenances shall comply with sections 2.38 and 2.39 of this Part (Items 10p and 11p).

(d) Bottling or packaging machine supply tanks and bowls have covers which are constructed to prevent any contamination from reaching the inside of the filler tank or bowl. All covers shall be in place during operation.

(e) A drip deflector is installed on each filler valve. Such drip deflector shall be designed and adjusted to divert condensation away from the open container.

(f) Container infeed conveyors to automatic bottling or packaging machines have overhead shields to protect the bottles or packages from contamination. Such shields shall extend from the bottle washer discharge to the bottle feed star or, in the case of single-service packaging machines, from the forming unit discharge to the filling unit and from the filling unit to the closure unit. Overhead shields shall be required on can infeed conveyors when the cans are fed to the filler with covers off.

(g) Container fabricating materials, such as paper stock, foil, wax, plastic, etc., are handled in a sanitary manner and protected against undue exposure during the package assembly operation.

(h) Bottling and packaging machine floats are designed to be adjustable without removing the cover.

(i) The filler pipe of all bottling and packaging machines have an apron or other approved device as close to the filler bowl as possible to prevent condensation or drip from reaching the inside of the filler bowl.

(j) Filling cylinders on packaging machines are protected from contamination by the use of overhead shields. When any lubricant is applied to the filler pistons, cylinders or other milk-contact surfaces, the lubricant shall be nontoxic, sterile, and shall be sparingly applied in a sanitary manner.

(k) Milk and milk products from continuous defoamers are not returned directly to the filler bowl.

(l) Butter liners, before use, are completely immersed in a salt solution in a non-corrosive container for not less than 30 minutes at the boiling point and held in this solution until used. At least 15 pounds of salt shall be used for every 100 pounds of solution, and the solution shall be changed frequently to keep it clean.