ARTICLE 1. Standards [34001. - 34008.]

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC 1.

in effect

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34001. Section 34001.

Pasteurization of milk or a milk product is a process which consists of one of the following: (a) Uniformly heating milk or a milk product to a temperature of not less than 145 degrees Fahrenheit and of holding it at such temperature for at least 30 minutes, except a milk product which has a higher fat content than milk, or contains added sweeteners, or both, shall be heated to at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit and held at or above this temperature for at least 30 consecutive minutes. (b) Uniformly heating milk or a milk product to a temperature of at least 161 degrees Fahrenheit and holding it at such temperature for at least 15 seconds, except a milk product which has a higher fat content than milk, or contains added sweeteners, or both, shall be heated to at least 166 degrees Fahrenheit and held at or above this temperature for at least 15 consecutive seconds. Each such type of heating shall be conducted in approved and properly operated equipment. The milk or milk product shall be immediately cooled to a temperature of not above 50 degrees Fahrenheit after the completion of either of such heatings. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed as prohibiting any other process which has been demonstrated to be equally efficient and is approved by the director.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34001.5. Section 34001.5.

When the term “ultra-pasteurized” is used to describe any milk or milk product, it means that such milk or milk product has been thermally processed, either before or after packaging, in accordance with the ultra-pasteurization requirements of regulations established under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, so as to produce a product which has an extended shelf life under refrigerated conditions. The installation and use of any ultra-pasteurization equipment shall be subject to the approval of the director.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34002. Section 34002.

If the process of ripening or starting is to be commenced immediately, each of the following shall be cooled to a degree no lower than necessary for such ripening or starting: (a) Cream which is pasteurized for use and which is used in the manufacture of butter. (b) Milk which is pasteurized for use and which is used in the manufacture of cheese.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34003. Section 34003.

In the process of producing cream from market milk which is to be used as market cream or for the standardization of market milk, such cream may be heated to a temperature of not to exceed 165 degrees Fahrenheit and immediately cooled to a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Such heat treatment shall not prevent the subsequent pasteurization of such cream.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34004. Section 34004.

Pasteurized skim milk, which is derived from market milk and which is used for standardizing pasteurized market milk, may be repasteurized once.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34005. Section 34005.

Market cream which has not been packaged for distribution to consumers may be repasteurized once.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34006. Section 34006.

Every person that operates any place where milk is received and byproducts are distributed shall pasteurize any skim milk, whey, or other milk byproduct which is to be used for feeding purposes for farm animals before delivering it. Such pasteurization may be accomplished by heating the byproduct to a temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit and holding it at that temperature for not less than 30 minutes, or by heating it to 185 degrees Fahrenheit without holding.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34007. Section 34007.

(a) Every person that uses any pasteurizing apparatus for the manufacture of soft fresh cheese varieties that are not cultured shall sample and test the pasteurized milk daily from each pasteurizer to determine the presence of phosphatase enzymes in a manner approved by the director. Records of the tests shall be made and kept on file for not less than one year after they are made. The records shall at all times be open to the inspection of the director and to all state, county, and municipal officers who are required to enforce laws and ordinances regarding milk products or the public health. (b) In the event of a positive finding pursuant to this section, the milk products plant operator shall immediately notify the department of the findings.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 34008. Section 34008.

(a) All market milk and market milk products, and all milk for manufacturing purposes and manufactured milk products, shall be pasteurized at the plant where processed and packaged unless otherwise provided in this division. (b) This section does not apply to any of the following: (1) Licensed milk products plants that are used exclusively for the preparation of ice cream, frozen yogurt, frozen dairy dessert, or frozen dessert that is manufactured on the premises from ice cream mix, frozen yogurt mix, frozen dairy dessert mix, or frozen dessert mix that is supplied by a licensed milk products plant. (2) Products sold through soft-serve establishments pursuant to Section 33704, including frozen yogurts and frozen dairy desserts. (3) Frozen and semifrozen products sold through establishments issued a limited frozen manufacturing permit pursuant to Section 35016. (4) Goat milk cheese produced at a licensed milk products plant, excluding cottage cheese, manufactured from curds, provided the curds were made only from goat milk that has been pasteurized, ultrapasteurized, or aseptically processed, as defined in Sections 34001, 34001.5, and 39701, respectively, at either of the following: (A) A licensed milk products plant. (B) A milk products plant that meets sanitation requirements substantially similar to those established by Article 3 (commencing with Section 33761) of Chapter 6, and that is registered as a food facility with the United States Food and Drug Administration in accordance with the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 350d). (c) The secretary may, by regulation, provide for additional exemptions from this section.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026