N.J. Admin. Code § 8:24-2.4

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 8:24-2.4 - Hygienic practices

(a) The following requirements shall apply to eating, drinking, or using tobacco:

1. Except as provided under (a)2 below, an employee shall only eat, drink, or use any form of tobacco, in compliance with the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act at N.J.S.A. 26:3D-55 through 3D-64 and the rules promulgated thereunder, in designated areas where the contamination of exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, un-wrapped single-service and single-use articles, or other items needing protection cannot result.

2. A food employee may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of the employee's hands, the container, exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.

(b) Food employees experiencing persistent sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose that causes discharges from the eyes, nose, or mouth shall not work with exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, or unwrapped single-service or single-use articles.

(c) The following requirements shall apply to hair restraints:

1. Except as provided in (c)2 below, food employees shall wear hair restraints such as hats, hair coverings or nets, beard restraints, and clothing that covers body hair, that are designed and worn to effectively keep their hair from contacting exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.

2. This subsection does not apply to food employees such as counter staff who only serve beverages and wrapped or packaged foods, hostesses, and wait staff if they present a minimal risk of contaminating exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.

(d) The following requirements shall apply to the handling of animals.

1. Except as specified in (d)2 below, food employees shall not care for or handle animals that may be present, such as patrol dogs, service animals, or pets that are allowed as specified in N.J.A.C. 8:24-6.5(k)2 ii through iv.

2. Food employees with service animals may handle or care for their service animals and food employees may handle or care for fish in aquariums or molluscan shellfish or crustacea in display tanks if the food employees wash their hands.

N.J. Admin. Code § 8:24-2.4