Which of the following applies to the Sanitation Performance Standards (SPS)?

• A. Address the contamination of product and cleanliness of food contact surfaces
• B. Address sanitary conditions in and around the establishment premises
• C. Prescribe the step-by-step methods by which establishments will meet each regulatory standard
• D. Require establishments to have a written SPS Plan which is reassessed annually

Answer: (B)

Sanitation Performance Standards are about keeping the physical environment where food is prepared and kept in a safe, sanitary condition. This means focusing on the cleanliness and condition of the establishment itself—floors, walls, ceilings, equipment, fixtures, lighting, ventilation, pest control, water supply, waste handling, and handwashing facilities—so they don’t become sources of contamination. That focus on the overall sanitary state of the premises best matches what SPS covers.

The other ideas don’t fit as well. Contamination of product and cleanliness of food contact surfaces target the safety of the product itself and specific contact surfaces, which is narrower than the SPS scope. Prescribing step-by-step methods would be a prescriptive approach, whereas SPS are performance-based and flexible. Requiring a written SPS Plan reassessed annually adds an extra procedural layer that isn’t inherent to SPS requirements.