Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Chapter 57 - Food Protection
Section 5729 - Misbranding of food


(a) General rule.--A food shall be misbranded:
(1) If its labeling is false or misleading in any way.
(2) If it is offered for sale under the name of another food.
(3) If it is an imitation of another food, unless its label bears, in type of uniform size and prominence, the word "imitation" and, immediately thereafter, the name of the food that is simulated.
(4) If its container is so made, formed or filled as to be misleading.
(5) If it is in a package that does not bear a label containing:
(i) The name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer or distributor.
(ii) An accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure or numerical count.
Reasonable variations are permitted and exemptions as to small packages shall be established in regulations promulgated by the secretary.
(6) If it is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity has been prescribed by regulation under this subchapter or under any of the Federal acts, unless it conforms to the definition and standard and its label bears the name of the food specified in the definition and standard and the common names of optional ingredients, other than spices, flavoring and coloring, present in the food.
(7) Unless its label bears the following:
(i) The common or usual name of the food, if any.
(ii) If made from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each ingredient is listed in descending order of predominance by weight, except that spices, flavorings and colorings not required to be certified under any of the Federal acts, other than those sold as such, may be designated as spices, flavorings and colorings without naming each.
(8) If it is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral and other dietary properties as determined by regulation to be necessary and in order to inform purchasers as to its value for such use.
(9) If it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating that fact. Exemptions shall be established by regulations to the extent that compliance with requirements of this paragraph is impracticable. The provisions of this paragraph or paragraphs (6) and (7) with respect to artificial coloring shall not apply in the case of butter, cheese or ice cream. The provisions of this paragraph with respect to chemical preservatives shall not apply to a pesticide chemical when used in or on a raw agricultural commodity which is the produce of the soil.
(10) If it is a raw agricultural commodity bearing or containing a pesticide chemical applied after harvest, unless the shipping container of the commodity bears labeling which declares the presence of the chemical and the common or usual name and function of the chemical. A declaration shall not be required when the commodity is removed from the shipping container and is held or displayed for sale at retail in accordance with the custom of the trade.
(11) If it is a color additive, unless its packaging and labeling are in conformity with the packaging and labeling requirements applicable to color additives in department regulations.
(12) If, at the site of purchase of the particular food, a sign, placard or other graphic matter relating to the food is false or misleading in any particular.
(b) Exceptions.--The provisions of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) shall not apply to the following:
(1) Bakery goods sold at retail by the bakery directly to the consumer in a store or market stand operated by the bakery. The bakery goods must be made by the bakery, the bakery must guarantee that they are in compliance with this act in all other respects and the required information in subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9) must be available to the public at the point-of-sale.
(2) Bakery goods sold to the operators of retail food facilities when the required information in subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9), (10) and (11) is available to the public on the premises of the retail food facility.
(c) Nonpackaged food.--Food offered for retail sale in other than package form shall be accompanied by a sign, placard or notice listing the ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight.

Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes

Title 3 - AGRICULTURE

Chapter 57 - Food Protection

Extra - Chapter Notes

Section 5701 - Short title of subchapter

Section 5702 - Definitions

Section 5703 - License required

Section 5704 - Inspection, sampling and analysis

Section 5707 - Powers of department

Section 5708 - Infectious persons

Section 5709 - Linens, equipment and utensils

Section 5710 - Retail food facility and employee cleanliness

Section 5711 - Toilets, sinks and drains

Section 5712 - Applicability

Section 5713 - School cafeterias and organized camps

Section 5714 - Penalties

Section 5721 - Short title of subchapter

Section 5722 - Definitions

Section 5723 - Prohibited acts

Section 5724 - Temporary or permanent injunctions

Section 5725 - Penalties

Section 5726 - Detention and condemnation

Section 5727 - Temporary permits

Section 5728 - Adulteration of food

Section 5729 - Misbranding of food

Section 5730 - Regulations to exempt certain labeling requirements

Section 5731 - Poisonous or deleterious substances and tolerances

Section 5732 - Inspection, sampling and analysis

Section 5733 - Rules and regulations

Section 5734 - Registration of food establishments

Section 5735 - Product registration

Section 5736 - Construction of subchapter

Section 5737 - Acts not affected

Section 5741 - Scope of subchapter

Section 5742 - Definitions

Section 5743 - Label requirement

Section 5744 - Sell-by date or best-by date of greater than 17 days from pasteurization

Section 5745 - Prohibitions

Section 5746 - Monitoring by milk plants and department

Section 5747 - Regulations