ARTICLE 5. Linens [114185. - 114185.5.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 5.
in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 114185. Section 114185.

Except for linen used in fabric implements, linen shall not be used in contact with food unless they are used to line a container for the service of foods and the linens are replaced each time the container is refilled for a new consumer and laundered prior to reuse.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 114185.1. Section 114185.1.

(a) Wiping cloths that are in use for cleaning food spills shall not be used for any other purpose. (b) Cloths used for wiping food spills shall be dry and used for cleaning food spills from tableware and carry-out containers or used only once, or if used repeatedly, held in a sanitizing solution of an approved concentration as specified in Section 114099.6. (c) Dry or wet cloths that are used with raw foods of animal origin shall be kept separate from cloths used for other purposes, and wet cloths used with raw foods of animal origin shall be kept in a separate sanitizing solution. (d) Wet wiping cloths used with a freshly made sanitizing solution and dry wiping cloths shall be free of food debris and visible soil. (e) Working containers of sanitizing solutions for storage of in-use wiping cloths shall be used in a manner to prevent contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens, or single-use articles.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 114185.3. Section 114185.3.

(a) Linens that do not come in direct contact with food shall be laundered when they become wet, sticky, or visibly soiled. (b) Cloth gloves shall be laundered before being used with a different type of raw food of animal origin such as beef, lamb, pork, fish and poultry. (c) Cloth napkins shall be laundered between each use. (d) Wet wiping cloths shall be laundered daily. (e) Dry wiping cloths shall be laundered as necessary to prevent contamination of food and clean serving utensils.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 114185.4. Section 114185.4.

(a) Adequate and suitable space shall be provided for the storage of clean linens. (b) Soiled linens shall be kept in clean, nonabsorbent receptacles or clean, washable laundry bags and stored and transported to prevent contamination of food, clean equipment, clean utensils, and single-use articles.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 114185.5. Section 114185.5.

(a) Laundry facilities on the premises of a food facility shall be used only for the washing and drying of items used in the operation of the establishment. (b) If work clothes or linens are laundered on the premises, a mechanical clothes washer and dryer shall be provided and used. (c) If wiping cloths are laundered on the premises, they shall be laundered in a mechanical clothes washer and dryer or in a warewashing sink that is cleaned and sanitized before and after each time it is used to wash wiping cloths or wash produce or thaw food.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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