2023 Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes › Title 3 - AGRICULTURE › Chapter 57 - Food Protection › Section 5729 - Misbranding of food

§ 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.