(1) Only Grade “A” pasteurized milk and milk products, pasteurized manufactured milk products, ice cream, and frozen desserts, and cheese made from pasteurized milk shall be sold at retail to the final consumer or to food service establishments as defined in chapter 381, food establishments as defined in chapter 500, or public food service establishments as defined in chapter 509. Cheese made from raw milk may also be sold at retail to the final consumer or to food service establishments as defined in chapter 381, food establishments as defined in chapter 500, or public food service establishments as defined in chapter 509 if the cheese is aged more than 60 days at a temperature above 35° F.

(a) In an emergency, however, the department may authorize the sale of reconstituted pasteurized milk products, or pasteurized milk and milk products that have not been graded or the grade of which is unknown, in which case such milk and milk products shall be appropriately labeled, as determined by the department.

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Terms Used In Florida Statutes 502.091

  • Department: means the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. See Florida Statutes 502.012
  • Milk: means the lacteal secretion, practically free from colostrum, obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows, goats, sheep, water buffalo, or other hooved mammals. See Florida Statutes 502.012
  • Milk plant: means any place, premises, or establishment where milk or milk products are collected, handled, processed, stored, pasteurized, ultra-pasteurized, aseptically processed and packaged, retort processed after packaging, condensed, dried, packaged, bottled, or prepared for distribution. See Florida Statutes 502.012
  • Milk products: means products made with milk that is processed in some manner, including being whipped, acidified, cultured, concentrated, lactose-reduced, or sodium-reduced or aseptically processed, or having the addition or subtraction of milkfat, the addition of safe and suitable microbial organisms, or the addition of safe and suitable optional ingredients for protein, vitamin, or mineral fortification. See Florida Statutes 502.012
  • Raw milk: means unpasteurized milk. See Florida Statutes 502.012
  • Retail: means the sale of goods to the public for use or consumption rather than for resale. See Florida Statutes 502.012
(b) If the department determines that milk is fit for human consumption even though it is less than Grade “A” because the producer failed to comply with the sanitation or bacterial standards defined in this chapter, or if any specific shipment of milk fails to comply with standards of the Grade “A” pasteurized milk ordinance, the department may issue a permit allowing the milk to be used in ungraded products, such as frozen desserts, which are being processed by such milk plant. During processing of such milk, it shall be pasteurized at a temperature of at least 175° F. for at least 15 seconds or at least 160° F. for at least 30 minutes.
(2) Milk that is in final package form for beverage use shall have been pasteurized and shall contain at least 8.25 percent milk solids-not-fat and at least 3.25 percent milkfat.