ARTICLE 5. Misbranding [18781. - 18789.]

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC 5.

in effect

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18781. Section 18781.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded in each of the following cases: (a) Its labeling is false or misleading in any particular. (b) It is offered for sale under the name of another food. (c) 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 imitated. (d) Its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18782. Section 18782.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded unless it bears a label showing all of the following: (a) The name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor. (b) An accurate statement of the quantity of the product in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count. The director may permit reasonable variations, exemptions as to small packages and exemptions as to any livestock product not in a container, that conforms to the purposes of this chapter.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18783. Section 18783.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded if any word, statement, or other information required by, or under authority of, this chapter to appear on the label or other labeling is not prominently placed thereon with such conspicuousness, as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices, in the labeling, and in such terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18784. Section 18784.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded if it purports to be, or is represented, as a food for which a definition and standard of identity or composition has been prescribed by the regulations of the director under Section 18731 unless it conforms to such definition and standard, and its label bears the name of the food specified in the definition and standard and, insofar as may be required by such regulations, the common names of optional ingredients, other than spices, flavoring, and coloring, present in such food.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18785. Section 18785.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded if it purports to be, or is represented as, a food for which a standard or standards of fill of container have been prescribed by regulations of the director under this chapter, and it falls below the standard of fill of container applicable thereto, unless its label bears, in such manner and form as such regulations specify, a statement that it falls below such standard.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18786. Section 18786.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded if it is not subject to the provisions of Section 18784, unless its label bears the common or usual name of the food, if any, and in case it consists of two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each such ingredient. The director may, however, permit spices, flavorings, and colorings to be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each, and to the extent that compliance with the requirements of Section 18784 are impracticable, or results in deception or unfair competition, by granting exemptions that conform to the purposes of this chapter.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18787. Section 18787.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded if it purports to be, or is represented to be, for special dietary uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties as the director, after consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture of the United States, determines is necessary to fully inform purchasers as to its value for such uses.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18788. Section 18788.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded if it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it is so indicated on the label. To the extent that compliance with the requirements of this section is impracticable, the director may establish exemptions that conform to the purposes of this chapter.

Cal. Food and Agricultural Code - FAC § 18789. Section 18789.

A livestock or poultry product is misbranded if it fails to bear, directly upon the livestock or poultry product and on its container, as the director may prescribe, the official inspection legend and establishment number of the establishment where the product was prepared. The director may require such other information as he deems necessary to assure that the product will not have false or misleading labeling and that the public will be informed of the manner of handling required to maintain the livestock or poultry product in a wholesome condition.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026