Age for highly susceptible population specified only for juice
The definition of “highly susceptible population” is new to the Minnesota food code as of Jan. 1. This new requirement helps better protect the health of the older adult, preschool-age, and immunocompromised populations.
- None of the restrictions includes any specific age to describe “older adults.”
- For most restrictions, “preschool-age children” are considered to be under 5 years old (Kindergarten).
- For raw juice, Minnesota food code specifies that restrictions apply to children who are age 9 or less.
Remember, restrictions for highly susceptible populations apply only to facilities that provide services such as:
- Custodial care
- Health care
- Nutritional or socialization services (for example, a senior center)
Restrictions for undercooked animal food
If you serve a highly susceptible population, you may never serve raw or undercooked animal food. Examples include:
- Rare or medium-rare hamburgers and mechanically tenderized steaks, or medium or medium-rare duck
- Soft-cooked eggs (soft boiled, poached, sunny side up, over-easy)
- Sushi, seared tuna, or oysters
If you serve a highly susceptible population, you may use pasteurized eggs for soft-cooked egg orders. Pasteurized eggs are individually stamped with a small pink P symbol.
Pasteurized eggs are individually marked with a stamped P.
Keep elders, young children and people with weakened immune systems safe
Individuals who are part of a highly susceptible population are more likely than others in the general population to experience foodborne disease. The Minnesota food code includes special requirements that help ensure safe food for highly susceptible populations.
One example is a HACCP plan for juice. Following an approved HACCP plan ensures a 99.999 percent (5-log) reduction in the number of disease causing microorganisms.
In certain situations, juice is made on-site and packaged in a retail food establishment without a HACCP plan. Those packages of juice must include a specific warning label. If you see this label, do not serve this juice in your establishment that serves a highly susceptible population.
If you serve a highly susceptible population, do not serve packaged juice if it has this warning.
Serving juice to highly susceptible populations
If you serve a highly susceptible population, you have two options for serving juice:
- Serve prepackaged pasteurized juice.
- Prepare unpackaged juice on-site, following an approved HACCP plan.
Requirements for smoothies are the same as for juice
Smoothies made with fruit or vegetables juices, purees, or concentrates are considered juice. If you are making smoothies in your establishment that serves a highly susceptible population, you need to follow all the requirements for juice.
Learn more about serving highly susceptible populations
Pool Safely is a national public education campaign that works with partners around the country to reduce child drownings and entrapments in swimming pools and spas.
Their website contains information to help families, pool operators and regulators learn:
- Crucial water safety steps to follow at public and residential pools and spas.
- How to best teach children how to be safer in and around the water.
- Critical water safety steps to ensure that a great afternoon at the pool doesn’t turn into a tragic one.
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