15A NCAC 18A .0182      BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CONTAMINATION STANDARDS

(a)  Cooked crustacea or crustacea meat shall not exceed Escherichia coli Most Probable Number (MPN) of 36 per 100 grams of sample or exceed a standard plate count of 100,000 per gram.

(b)  Pasteurized crustacea meat shall contain no Escherichia coli or fecal coliform. Samples of pasteurized crustacea meat, taken within 24 hours of pasteurizing, shall not have a standard plate count of more than 3,000 per gram.

(c)  Thermally processed crustacea or crustacea meat shall not exceed Escherichia coli MPN of 36 per 100 grams of sample or exceed a standard plate count of 100,000 per gram.

(d)  Cooked crustacea or crustacea meat shall be handled in accordance with the rules of this Section.

(e)  Cooked crustacea or crustacea meat not complying with the standards set forth in this Rule may be deemed adulterated by the Division of Marine Fisheries according to the severity of exceedance and the expected threat to public health.

History Note:        Authority G.S. 113-134; 113-182; 113-221.2; 143B-289.52;

Eff. October 1, 1992;

Amended Eff. August 1, 1998; February 1, 1997;

Readopted Eff. April 1, 2022.