REFILLING RETURNABLES. 3-304.17

A. Except as specified in this part, empty containers returned to a food establishment for cleaning and refilling with food must be cleaned and refilled in a regulated food processing plant. P1 B. A take-home food container returned to a food establishment may be refilled at a food establishment with food if the food container is: (1) designed and constructed for reuse and in accordance with the requirements specified under parts 4626.0450 , 4626.0505 , and 4626.0515 ; P1 (2) one that was initially provided by the food establishment to the consumer, either empty or filled with food by the food establishment, for the purpose of being returned for reuse; and (3) subject to the following steps before being refilled with food: (a) cleaned as specified under parts 4626.0840 to 4626.0885 ; (b) sanitized as specified under parts 4626.0900 to 4626.0905 ; P1 and (c) visually inspected by a food employee to verify that the container, as returned, meets the requirements under parts 4626.0450 to 4626.0470 , 4626.0490 , and 4626.0515 . P1 C. A take-home food container returned to a food establishment may be refilled at a food establishment with a beverage if: (1) the beverage is not TCS food; (2) the design of the container and of the rinsing equipment and the nature of the beverage, when considered together, allow effective cleaning at home or in the food establishment; (3) facilities for rinsing before refilling returned containers with fresh, hot water that is under pressure and not recirculated are provided as part of the dispensing system; (4) the consumer-owned container returned to the food establishment for refilling is refilled for sale or service only to the same consumer; and (5) the container is refilled by: (a) an employee of the food establishment; or (b) the owner of the container if the beverage system includes a contamination-free transfer process as specified under part 4626.0575 , items A, B, and D, that cannot be bypassed by the container owner. D. Consumer-owned, personal take-out beverage containers, such as thermally insulated bottles, nonspill coffee cups, promotional beverage glasses, and vinegar and oil containers, may be refilled by employees or the consumer if refilling is a contamination-free process as specified under part 4626.0575 , items A, B, and D. E. Consumer-owned containers that are not food-specific may be filled at a water vending machine or system.