Montana Code Annotated
Part 2. Food and Bottled Water
50-31-203. When food misbranded

50-31-203. When food misbranded. A food is considered to be misbranded if:
(1) its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;
(2) it is offered for sale under the name of another food;
(3) it is an imitation of another food for which a definition and standard of identity has been prescribed by regulations as provided by 50-31-201 or if it is an imitation of another food that is not subject to subsection (7) of this section, unless its label bears in type of uniform size and prominence the word imitation and, immediately after that word, the name of the food imitated;
(4) its container is made, formed, or filled in a manner that is misleading;
(5) it is in package form, unless it bears a label containing:
(a) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor;
(b) an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count; provided that reasonable variations must be permitted and exemptions as to small packages must be established by regulations prescribed by the department;
(6) any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed on the label or labeling with such conspicuousness (as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling) and in terms that render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;
(7) it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity have been prescribed by regulations as provided by 50-31-201, unless:
(a) it conforms to that definition and standard; and
(b) its label bears the name of the food specified in the definition and standard and, as may be required by the regulations, the common names of optional ingredients (other than spices, flavoring, and coloring) present in the food;
(8) it purports to be or is represented as:
(a) a food for which a standard of quality has been prescribed by regulations as provided by 50-31-201 and its quality falls below that standard, unless its label bears, in a manner and form that the regulations specify, a statement that it falls below that standard; or
(b) a food for which a standard or standards of fill of container have been prescribed by regulation as provided by 50-31-201 and it falls below the standard of fill of container applicable, unless its label bears, in a manner and form that the regulations specify, a statement that it falls below that standard;
(9) it is not subject to the provisions of subsection (7) unless it bears labeling clearly giving:
(a) the common or usual name of the food, if there is one; and
(b) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each ingredient; except that spices, flavorings, and colorings, other than those sold as such, may be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each. To the extent that compliance with the requirements of this subsection (9)(b) is impractical or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions must be established by regulations promulgated by the department. The requirements of this subsection (9)(b) do not apply to food products that are packaged at the direction of purchasers at retail at the time of sale, the ingredients of which are disclosed to the purchasers by other means in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department.
(10) it purports to be or is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears information concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties that the department determines to be and by regulations prescribes as necessary in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for special dietary uses;
(11) it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative unless it bears labeling stating that fact. To the extent that compliance with the requirements of this subsection is impracticable, exemptions must be established by regulations promulgated by the department. Butter, cheese, ice cream, and frozen desserts as described in 81-22-101 are exempt from label statements for artificial flavoring and artificial coloring.
(12) it is a product intended as an ingredient of another food and when used according to the directions of the purveyor will result in the final food product being adulterated or misbranded;
(13) it is a color additive, unless its packaging and labeling are in conformity with packaging and labeling requirements applicable to that color additive prescribed under the provisions of the federal act;
(14) it is a cell-cultured edible product labeled as meat but does not meet the definition of meat in 81-9-217. A cell-cultured edible product derived from meat muscle cells, fat cells, connective tissue, blood, or other meat components is not considered to be misbranded if it is labeled in accordance with 50-31-103 to indicate it is derived from those cells, tissues, blood, or components.
History: En. Sec. 11, Ch. 307, L. 1967; amd. Sec. 107, Ch. 349, L. 1974; R.C.M. 1947, 27-711; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 605, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 212, Ch. 42, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 4, Ch. 172, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 186, L. 2019.