ARTICLE 6. Misbranded Food [110660. - 110805.]

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC 6.
in effect

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110661. Section 110661.

Any food is misbranded if it is manufactured, packed, or held in this state in a food processing facility not duly registered as provided in this part, except for food from facilities exclusively storing, handling, or processing dry beans.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110665. Section 110665.

Any food is misbranded if its labeling does not conform with the requirements for nutrition labeling as set forth in Section 403(q) (21 U.S.C. Sec. 343(q)) of the federal act and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Any food exempted from those requirements under the federal act shall also be exempt under this section.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110670. Section 110670.

Any food is misbranded if its labeling does not conform with the requirements for nutrient content or health claims as set forth in Section 403(r) (21 U.S.C. Sec. 343(r)) of the federal act and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Any food exempted from those requirements under the federal act shall also be exempt under this section.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110673. Section 110673.

Any food is misbranded if its labeling does not conform with the requirements for food allergen labeling as set forth in Section 403(w) of the federal act (21 U.S.C. Sec. 343(w)) and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Any food exempted from those requirements under the federal act, shall also be exempt under this section.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110674. Section 110674.

Any food is misbranded if its labeling does not conform with the requirements for pasteurized in-shell egg labeling as set forth in Section 27644.5 of the Food and Agricultural Code, and the regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110675. Section 110675.

Any food is misbranded if it is in package form, unless it bears a label containing all of the following information: (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. Reasonable variations from the requirements of subdivision (b) shall be permitted. Requirements for placement and prominence of the information required by subdivision (b), and exemptions as to small packages, shall be established in accordance with regulations adopted pursuant to Sections 110100 and 110380.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110685. Section 110685.

Any food is misbranded if it is offered for sale under the name of another food, or if it is an imitation of another food for which a definition and standard of identity has been established by regulation and its label does not bear, in type of uniform size and prominence the word “imitation,” and immediately following, the name of the food imitated.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110695. Section 110695.

Any food is misbranded if it is a confectionery and contains alcohol in excess of 1 2 of 1 percent by weight and that fact does not appear on the label for the food.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110700. Section 110700.

Any food is misbranded if it is a potentially hazardous processed food that is preserved by refrigeration at temperatures of 45 degrees Fahrenheit or lower and it is not conspicuously labeled “Perishable Keep Refrigerated.”

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110705. Section 110705.

Any food is misbranded if any word, statement, or other information required pursuant to this part to appear on the label or labeling is not prominently placed upon the label or labeling with conspicuousness, as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices in the labeling and in terms as to render it likely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110710. Section 110710.

Any food is misbranded if it purports to be, or is represented as, a food for which a definition and standard of identity has been established under Section 110505 and the label fails to bear the name of the food specified in the standard or otherwise fails to conform to the definition and standard.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110715. Section 110715.

Any food is misbranded if it purports to be, or is represented as, a food for which a standard of quality or fill has been prescribed by regulation under Section 110505 and its quality or fill is below the standard unless its label bears, in a manner and form as specified by regulation, a statement that it is below the standard.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110725. Section 110725.

(a) Any food fabricated from two or more ingredients is misbranded unless it bears a label clearly stating the common or usual name of each ingredient, and if the food purports to be a beverage containing vegetable or fruit juice, a statement with appropriate prominence on the information panel of the total percentage of fruit or vegetable juice contained in the food. Any spice, flavoring, or color not required to be certified under Section 110090, except any spice, flavoring, or color sold as such, may be designated as spice, flavoring, or color without naming each. (b) Exemptions may be established by the department, when compliance with any requirement of this section is impractical or results in deception or unfair competition. (c) In adopting any regulations relating to this section, the department shall take into consideration the current regulations established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under authority contained in the federal act. (d) Notwithstanding Section 110040 or any other provision of law, as used in this section, the term “food” includes, but is not limited to, meat. The term “food” does not, however, include any alcoholic beverage. (e) This section shall not apply to any food sold for consumption on or off the premises of any restaurant in the course of its business as a restaurant, or to any milk or dairy product.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110730. Section 110730.

The requirements of Sections 110720 and 110725 do not apply to any food that is packaged at the direction of retail purchasers at the time of sale if the ingredients are disclosed to the purchasers by other means in accordance with the regulations adopted by the department.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110735. Section 110735.

Any food is misbranded if it purports to be, or is represented, for special dietary uses as prescribed by regulation under Section 110095 and its label does not bear information concerning any vitamin or mineral content, or other dietary property as the department prescribes, by regulation, as necessary to fully inform purchasers as to the food’s value for that use.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110740. Section 110740.

Any food is misbranded if it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless its labeling states that fact. Exemptions may be established by the department.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110745. Section 110745.

Any food is misbranded if it is intended as a component of another food and when used in accordance with the directions of the purveyor, it will result in the final food being adulterated or misbranded.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110750. Section 110750.

Any food is misbranded if it is a color additive and it is not in conformity with the requirements for color additives prescribed under the provisions of Section 110090.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110775. Section 110775.

It is unlawful for any person to alter, mutilate, destroy, obliterate, or remove the label, or any part of the labeling, of any food if the act results in the food being misbranded.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110790. Section 110790.

Any food intended for export shall not be deemed to be misbranded under this part if it satisfies all of the following requirements: (a) It accords to the specifications of the foreign purchaser. (b) It is not in conflict with the laws of the importing country. (c) It is labeled on the outside of the shipping package to show that it is intended for export. If the article is sold or offered for sale in domestic commerce, this section shall not exempt it from any of the provisions of this part.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110795. Section 110795.

(a) The department may adopt regulations that name and describe the characteristics of salmon and any other fish or other seafood it considers appropriate. The department shall consult with the Department of Fish and Game, the Joint Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture, consumers, commercial fishermen, aquaculturists, and seafood processors, wholesalers, restaurateurs, and other retailers before adopting these regulations. The department shall not adopt any regulation that conflicts with the common name of any fish designated by the Department of Fish and Game pursuant to Section 8023 of the Fish and Game Code. (b) In addition to the consultations required by subdivision (a), the department shall consult and seek the recommendations of the groups named in that subdivision concerning the possible need for, or desirability of, any further legislation or regulations affecting seafood labeling. (c) No regulation adopted pursuant to this section shall deviate from a pertinent United States standard where the fish or seafood product specified is packed or processed as a standardized product under a United States standard. (d) Nothing in this section or in regulations adopted pursuant to this section shall be construed to require the use of more than the common family name of any fish or seafood by any restaurant in menus or advertisements.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110800. Section 110800.

(a) Any label of any retail cut of beef, veal, lamb, or pork held for sale in a retail food production and marketing establishment or a frozen food locker plant shall clearly identify the species (beef, veal, lamb, or pork) and the primal cut from which it is derived, and the retail name. This section shall not apply to ground beef or hamburger, boneless stewing meat, cubed steaks, sausage, or soupbones. (b) “Primal cuts” include only the following in the various species: Beef Veal Lamb Pork Chuck Shoulder Shoulder Shoulder Rib Rib Rib — Loin Loin Loin Loin Shank Shank Shank — Brisket Breast Breast — Plate Breast Breast — Flank Flank — — Round Round or leg Leg Leg or ham Cuts derived from other than the above primal cuts need only show species and the retail name. (c) It is unlawful and constitutes misbranding for any person to sell or offer for sale in a retail food production and marketing establishment or frozen food locker plant any retail cut of beef that is labeled in violation of this section.

Cal. Health and Safety Code - HSC § 110805. Section 110805.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no chopped or ground beef or hamburger that is offered for sale in any retail food production and marketing establishment or frozen food locker plant shall be advertised, labeled, or otherwise held out in any manner to describe or suggest its quality or relative leanness or fat content unless the label, advertisement, or other representation accurately discloses the maximum fat content thereof by the designation “Does not exceed __ percent fat”. However, in no case shall the fat content of any chopped or ground beef or hamburger exceed 30 percent fat, except in no case shall the fat content exceed 26 percent in the case of chopped or ground beef or hamburger processed from the primal cut of chuck when the primal cut designation is being used. (b) No designation such as, but not limited to, “lean,” “super lean,” “premium,” “deluxe” or similar terms descriptive of quality, leanness, or fat content shall be included on the label unless the label also contains a fat-weight designation as specified in subdivision (a). However, as an alternative to including the fat-weight designation on the label, the fat-weight designation required by this section may be disclosed by means of a sign placed immediately adjacent to the counter on which the chopped or ground beef or hamburger is displayed. This sign shall be within plain view of prospective purchasers and shall display the appropriate designation specified in subdivision (a) in boldface print. (c) Chopped or ground beef or hamburger that is processed from primal cuts of round or sirloin shall not be required to disclose the maximum fat content if there is no reference to leanness or other quality designation relating to fat content other than the primal cut from which the product is derived. If there is a reference to leanness or any other quality designation relating to fat content, the maximum fat designation shall be a fat-weight designation as specified in subdivision (a). (d) It is unlawful and constitutes misbranding for any person to sell or offer for sale in a retail food production and marketing establishment or frozen food locker plant any chopped or ground beef or hamburger that is labeled in violation of this section.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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