Section 738.790  Products Coded and Records Retained

a)         Container Code.  Permanently legible code marks shall be placed at a readily visible location on each shipping container or they shall be placed on each finished product package delivered or displayed to retail purchasers and be visible on the unopened package.  The code marks may be placed in both locations if desired by the manufacturer.  Such marks shall identify at least the plant where packed and the product lot or packaging lot.

b)         Records.

1)         Records shall be maintained of the results of examinations of raw materials, packaging materials and finished products.  Suppliers' guarantees or certifications that verify compliance with the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Food and Drug Administration regulations and guidelines shall be retained.

2)         Processing and production records covering processes intended to pasteurize or otherwise treat materials to destroy pathogenic microorganisms shall be maintained and shall contain sufficient information to permit a public health evaluation of the processes.

3)         Records shall be maintained to identify the initial distribution of the finished product to facilitate, when necessary, the segregation of specific food lots that may have become contaminated or otherwise rendered unfit for their intended use.

4)         The records required by paragraphs (b)(1), (2), and (3) above shall be retained for a period of time that exceeds the shelf life of the finished product, except that they need not be retained more than 2 years.