(a) For purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:
(1) CONTAGIOUS OR INFECTIOUS DISEASE. A specific highly communicable disease caused by one or more biological agents and that is generally found in livestock, including poultry, designated for human consumption.
(2) PROCESSED FOOD. Any food other than a raw agricultural commodity, including any raw agricultural commodity that has been subject to processing, such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydration, or milling.
(3) RAW AGRICULTURAL COMMODITY. Any food in its raw or natural state, including all fruits that are washed, colored, or otherwise treated in their unpeeled natural form prior to marketing.
(b) The offense of endangering the food supply is committed if a person knowingly does any of the following:
(1) Brings into this state any domestic animal that is affected with any contagious or infectious disease or any animal that has been exposed to any contagious or infectious disease.
(2) Exposes any animal in this state to any contagious or infectious disease.
(3) Delivers any poultry that is infected with any contagious or infectious disease to any poultry producer pursuant to a production contract.
(4) Except as otherwise permitted by Alabama law, brings or releases into this state any insect pest or exposes any plant to an insect pest.
(5) Exposes any raw agricultural commodity, animal feed, or processed food to any contaminant or contagious or infectious disease.
(c) The offense of endangering the food supply does not include bona fide experiments and actions related to those experiments carried on by commonly recognized research facilities or actions by agricultural producers and animal health professionals who may inadvertently contribute to the spread of detrimental biological agents while employing generally acceptable management practices.
(d) Endangering the food supply is a Class B felony.
Last modified: May 3, 2021