“Adulterated” defined.
1. “Adulterated” applies to any livestock or poultry carcass, part of either carcass, meat or meat food product if:
(a) It bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health, but if the substance is not an added substance, such article shall not be considered adulterated under this paragraph if the quantity of such substance in or on such article does not ordinarily render it injurious to health.
(b) It bears or contains, by reason of administration of any substance to the live animal or otherwise, any added poisonous or added deleterious substance, other than one which is:
(1) A pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity;
(2) A food additive; or
(3) A color additive,
Ęwhich may, in the judgment of the Officer, make such article unfit for human food.
(c) It is, in whole or in part, a raw agricultural commodity and such commodity bears or contains a pesticide chemical which is unsafe within the meaning of section 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 346a.
(d) It bears or contains any food additive which is unsafe within the meaning of section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 348.
(e) It bears or contains any color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of section 706 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 376.
(f) It consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid or decomposed substance or is for any other reason unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome or otherwise unfit for human food.
(g) It has been prepared, packed or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health.
(h) It is, in whole or in part, the product of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter.
(i) Its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health.
(j) It has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity with a regulation or exemption in effect pursuant to section 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 21 U.S.C. § 348.
(k) Any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom, or if any substance has been substituted, wholly or in part therefor, or if damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner, or if any substance has been added thereto or mixed or packed therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is.
(l) It is margarine containing animal fat and any of the raw material used therein consisted in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid or decomposed substance.
2. An article which is not adulterated under paragraph (c), (d) or (e) of subsection 1 shall be deemed adulterated if use of the pesticide chemical, food additive or color additive in or on such article is prohibited by regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture in establishments at which inspection is maintained under the Wholesome Meat Act and the Wholesome Poultry Products Act.
Last modified: February 26, 2006