Which Food Code edition Massachusetts uses
The FDA report on Food Code adoption (calendar year 2024 (period ending december 31, 2024)) lists Massachusetts as using the 2013 Food Code.
ClearHACCP builds plans to the FDA Food Code 2022 and prints the section next to every limit. We have not yet verified how Massachusetts's edition compares, so plans for Massachusetts are checked by a person. Older editions also call for HACCP plans and variances for special processes, but paragraph numbers and some details differ. Ask your plan reviewer which edition and forms they work from.
Agencies the FDA report lists
| Agency | Edition | As reported |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts Department of Public Health | 2013 | Restaurants and retail food stores. Manual short-form. Effective 2018. |
Agency names and editions are copied as printed in the FDA report. A state can adopt a newer edition after the report period.
Where a HACCP plan or variance goes in Massachusetts
We have not verified Massachusetts's submission route, fees or forms yet. In most places the HACCP plan goes to the city or county health department that issues your food permit; some states review special processes centrally. Ask before you start, and ask whether they use their own HACCP or variance form.
Start with Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
What needs a HACCP plan
Under the FDA Food Code 2022, a restaurant needs a HACCP plan before it starts any process that needs a variance, or before it vacuum packs without one:
FDA Food Code 2022, 8-201.13(A)Before engaging in an activity that requires a HACCP PLAN, a PERMIT applicant or PERMIT HOLDER shall submit to the REGULATORY AUTHORITY for approval a properly prepared HACCP PLAN as specified under § 8-201.14 and the relevant provisions of this Code if:
In a restaurant that usually means sous vide and cook-chill, vacuum packing, acidified sushi rice, curing and smoking to preserve.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Massachusetts require a HACCP plan for sous vide?
Who approves HACCP plans in Massachusetts?
Will a ClearHACCP plan work here?
Sources
- FDA, Adoption of the FDA Food Code by State and Territorial Agencies Responsible for the Oversight of Restaurants and/or Retail Food Stores (2024 report)
- FDA, Food Code adoption by state (overview page)
- FDA Food Code 2022, full text (PDF)
Every temperature, time and pH on this page is quoted from the FDA Food Code 2022 with its section number. Your state or county may run an older edition or add its own rules, and only your regulatory authority approves a HACCP plan or grants a variance. This page explains the rules in plain words; it is not legal advice.