The Department of Business and Professional Regulation, Division of Hotels and Restaurants hereby gives notice:
That on March 24, 2011 the Department received an Emergency Petition for an Emergency Variance for Subparagraph 3-305.11(A)(2), 2001 FDA Food Code, Paragraph 3-305.14, 2001 FDA Food Code, Paragraph 6-202.15, 2001 FDA Food Code, Paragraph 6-202.16, 2001 FDA Food Code, subsection 61C-4.010(1), Florida Administrative Code, and subsection 61C-4.010(6), Florida Administrative Code, from El Cubano Express located in Orlando. The above referenced F.A.C. addresses the requirement for proper handling and dispensing of food. They are requesting to dispense bulk potentially hazardous foods other than frankfurters from an open air mobile food dispensing vehicle.
The Petition was published in Vol. 37/14 on April 8, 2011. The Order for this Petition was signed on April 14, 2011 and after a complete review of the variance request, the Division finds that the application of this Rule will create a financial hardship to the food service establishment. Furthermore, the Division finds that the Petitioner meets the burden of demonstrating that the underlying statute has been achieved by the Petitioner ensuring that each pan within the steam table is properly covered with an individual lid; the steam table is enclosed within a cabinet with tight-fitting doors, and is protected by an air curtain installed and operated according to manufacturer’s specifications that protects against flying vermin or other environmental contaminants; all steam table foods must be properly reheated for hot holding at approved commissaries and held hot at the proper minimum temperature per the parameters of the currently adopted FDA Food Code; and steam table food is to be dispensed by the operator with no customer self-service. The Petitioner shall also strictly adhere to the operating procedures and copies of the variance and operating procedures are to be present on the MFDV during all periods of operation.
A copy of the Order or additional information may be obtained by contacting:
Lydia.Gonzalez@DBPR.state.fl.us, Division of Hotels and Restaurants, 1940 North Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1011.