Florida Statutes
Chapter 500 - Food Products
500.451 - Horse Meat; Offenses.


(1) It is unlawful for any person to:
(a) Sell in the markets of this state horse meat for human consumption unless the horse meat is clearly stamped, marked, and described as horse meat for human consumption.
(b) Knowingly transport, distribute, sell, purchase, or possess horse meat for human consumption that is not clearly stamped, marked, and described as horse meat for human consumption or horse meat that is not acquired from a licensed slaughterhouse.

(2) A person that violates this section commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, except that any person who commits a violation of this section must be sentenced to a minimum mandatory fine of $3,500.
(3) In addition to any penalties provided in subsection (2), any license of any restaurant, store, or other business may be suspended as provided in the applicable licensing law upon conviction of an owner or employee of that business for a violation of this section in connection with that business.
History.—ss. 1, 2, ch. 21986, 1943; s. 11, ch. 25035, 1949; s. 454, ch. 71-136; s. 19, ch. 82-225; s. 27, ch. 94-180; s. 3, ch. 2010-87; s. 21, ch. 2019-167.
Note.—Former s. 500.33.

Structure Florida Statutes

Florida Statutes

Title XXXIII - Regulation of Trade, Commerce, Investments, and Solicitations

Chapter 500 - Food Products

500.01 - Florida Food Safety Act; Short Title.

500.02 - Purpose of Chapter.

500.03 - Definitions; Construction; Applicability.

500.032 - Declaration of Policy and Cooperation Among Departments.

500.033 - Florida Food Safety and Food Defense Advisory Council.

500.04 - Prohibited Acts.

500.09 - Rulemaking; Analytical Work.

500.10 - Food Deemed Adulterated.

500.11 - Food Deemed Misbranded.

500.115 - Advertisement of Food Deemed False.

500.12 - Food Permits; Building Permits.

500.121 - Disciplinary Procedures.

500.13 - Addition of Poisonous or Deleterious Substance to Food.

500.147 - Inspection of Food Establishments, Food Records, and Vehicles.

500.148 - Reports and Dissemination of Information; Confidentiality.

500.149 - Employment of Help; Expenses and Salaries.

500.165 - Transporting Shipments of Food Items; Rules; Penalty.

500.166 - Records of Interstate Shipment.

500.167 - Carriers in Interstate Commerce; Exception.

500.169 - Enforcement of Federal Act.

500.171 - Injunction to Restrain Violation.

500.172 - Embargoing, Detaining, Destroying of Food, Food Processing Equipment, or Areas That Are in Violation.

500.173 - Causes for Seizure and Condemnation of Foods.

500.174 - Seizure; Procedure; Prohibition on Sale or Disposal of Article; Penalty.

500.175 - Condemnation and Sale; Release of Seized Article.

500.177 - Penalty for Violation of S. 500.04; Dissemination of False Advertisement.

500.178 - Duty of State Attorney.

500.179 - Issuance of Warnings for Minor Violations.

500.451 - Horse Meat; Offenses.

500.459 - Water Vending Machines.

500.511 - Fees; Enforcement; Preemption.

500.60 - Regulation of Meat Preempted to State.

500.70 - Tomato Food Safety Standards; Inspections; Penalties; Tomato Good Agricultural Practices; Tomato Best Management Practices.

500.80 - Cottage Food Operations.

500.81 - Healthy Food Financing Initiative.

500.90 - Regulation of Polystyrene Products Preempted to Department.