RS 3:4201     

  

CHAPTER 27. MEAT AND POULTRY INSPECTION LAW

NOTE: §4201 eff. until contingency in Acts 2026, No. 555 is met.

§4201. Definitions

            As used in this Chapter, except as otherwise specified, the following terms shall have the meanings stated below:

            (1) The term "commissioner" means the "Commissioner, Louisiana Department of Agriculture."

            (2) The term "firm" means any partnership, association, or other unincorporated business organization.

            (3) The term "meat broker" means any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of buying or selling carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, or meat food products of cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines on commission, or otherwise negotiating purchases, sales, or transactions of such articles other than for his own account or as an employee of another person, firm or corporation.

            (4) The term "intrastate commerce" means commerce within the state.

            (5) The term "meat food product" means any product capable of use as human food which is made wholly or in part from any meat or other portion of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, swine, poultry or goats, excepting products which contain meat or other portions of such carcasses only in a relatively small proportion or historically have not been considered by consumers as products of the meat food industry, and which are exempted from definition as a meat food product by the commissioner under such conditions as he may prescribe to assure that the meat or other portions of such carcasses contained in such product are not adulterated and that such products are not represented as meat food products. The term as applied to food products of equines shall have a meaning comparable to that provided in this paragraph with respect to cattle, sheep, swine, poultry and goats.

            (6) The term "capable of use as human food" shall apply to any carcass, or part of a carcass, of any animal, unless it is denatured or otherwise identified as required by regulations prescribed by the commissioner to deter its use as human food, or it is naturally inedible by humans.

            (7) The term "prepared" means slaughtered, canned, salted, rendered, boned, cut up, or otherwise manufactured or processed.

            (8) The term "adulterated" shall apply to any carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product under one or more of the following circumstances:

            a. If it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious matter which may render it injurious to health;

            b. If 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--(a) a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity, (b) a food additive, or (c) a color additive) which may, in the judgment of the commissioner make such article unfit for human food;

            c. If it is, in whole or in part, a raw agricultural commodity which bears or contains a pesticide chemical, food additive, or color additive which is unsafe or prohibited as determined by regulations of the commissioner under this Chapter;

            d. If 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;

            e. If it has been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health;

            f. If it is, in whole or in part, the product of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter;

            g. If its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health;

            h. If it has been subjected to radiation at levels that exceed the tolerances established by the commissioner in regulations under this Act;

            i. If 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 packaged 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; or

            j. If 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.

            (9) The term "misbranded" shall apply to any carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product under one or more of the following circumstances:

            a. If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;

            b. If it is offered for sale under the name of another food;

            c. 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 imitated;

            d. If its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading;

            e. If in a package or other container unless it bears a label showing (a) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and (b) an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count; provided, that under Clause (b) of this Subparagraph (e), reasonable variations may be permitted, and exemptions as to small packages may be established by regulations prescribed by the commissioner;

            f. If any work, 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 unlikely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;

            g. 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 regulations of the commissioner, unless, (a) it conforms to such definition and standard, and (b) 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 foods;

            h. If it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a standard or standards of fill of the container have been prescribed by regulations of the commissioner, 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;

            i. If it is not subject to the provisions of Subparagraph "g", unless its label bears (a) the common or usual name of the food, if any there be, and (b) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each such ingredient; except that spices, flavorings, and colorings may, when authorized by the commissioner, be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each; provided that, to the extent that compliance with the requirements of Clause (b) of this Subparagraph "i" is impracticable, or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the commissioner;

            j. If it purports to be or is represented for special delivery uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral and other dietary properties as the commissioner, after consultation with the secretary of agriculture of the United States, determines to be, and by regulations prescribed as, necessary in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for such uses;

            k. If it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating the fact, provided, that to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this Subparagraph "k" is impracticable, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the commissioner, or;

            l. If it fails to bear, directly thereon or on its container, as the commissioner may by regulations prescribe, the inspection legend and, unrestricted by any of the foregoing, such other information as the commissioner may require in such regulations to assure that it will not have false or misleading labeling and that the public will be informed of the manner of handling required to maintain the article in a wholesome condition.

            (10) The term "label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon the immediate container (not including package liners) of any article.

            (11) The term "labeling" means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (1) upon any article or any of its containers or wrappers, or (2) accompanying such article.

            (12) The term "Federal Meat Inspection Act" means the act so entitled approved March 4, 1907, as amended by the Wholesome Meat Act (21 U.S.C. 71 et seq.), and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (13) The term "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act" means the act so entitled, approved June 25, 1938 (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.)**, and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (14) The term "pesticide chemical," "food additive," "color additive," and "raw agricultural commodity" shall have the same meanings for purposes of this Chapter as under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

            (15) The term "official mark" means the official inspection legend or any other symbol prescribed by regulations of the commissioner to identify the status of any article or animal under this Act.

            (16) The term "official inspection legend" means any symbol prescribed by regulations of the commissioner showing that the article was inspected and passed in accordance with this Chapter.

            (17) The term "official certificate" means any certificate prescribed by regulations of the commissioner for issuance by an inspector or other person performing official functions under this Chapter.

            (18) The term "official device" means any device prescribed or authorized by the commissioner for use in applying any official mark.

            (19) The term "renderer" means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of rendering carcasses, or parts or products of the carcasses, of cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines.

            (20) The term "animal food manufacturer" means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing or processing animal food derived wholly or in part from carcasses, or parts or products of the carcasses, of cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines.

            (21) The term "Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act" means the act so entitled, approved August 28, 1957 (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.)*** and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (22) The term "Federal Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1978" means the act so entitled, approved October 10, 1978 (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (23) The term "intervening transfer or storage" means no longer in possession of meat products.

NOTE: §4201 eff. upon the contingency in Acts 2026, No. 555 being met.

§4201. Definitions

            As used in this Chapter, except as otherwise specified, the following terms shall have the meanings stated below:

            (1) "Adulterated" shall apply to any carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product under one or more of the following circumstances:

            (a) If it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious matter which may render it injurious to health;

            (b) If 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--(a) a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity, (b) a food additive, or (c) a color additive) which may, in the judgment of the commissioner make such article unfit for human food;

            (c) If it is, in whole or in part, a raw agricultural commodity which bears or contains a pesticide chemical, food additive, or color additive which is unsafe or prohibited as determined by regulations of the commissioner under this Chapter;

            (d) If 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;

            (e) If it has been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health;

            (f) If it is, in whole or in part, the product of an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter;

            (g) If its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health;

            (h) If it has been subjected to radiation at levels that exceed the tolerances established by the commissioner in regulations under this Act;

            (i) If 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 packaged 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; or

            (j) If 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) "Animal food manufacturer" means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of manufacturing or processing animal food derived wholly or in part from carcasses, or parts or products of the carcasses, of cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines..

            (3) "Capable of use as human food" shall apply to any carcass, or part of a carcass, of any animal, unless it is denatured or otherwise identified as required by regulations prescribed by the commissioner to deter its use as human food, or it is naturally inedible by humans.

            (4) "Cell cultured food product" means any cultured animal tissue produced from in vitro animal cell cultures outside of the organism from which it derived.

            (5) "Commissioner" means the "Commissioner, Louisiana Department of Agriculture."

            (6) "Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act" means the act so entitled, approved June 25, 1938 (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.)**, and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (7) "Federal Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1978" means the act so entitled, approved October 10, 1978 (7 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (8) "Federal Meat Inspection Act" means the act so entitled approved March 4, 1907, as amended by the Wholesome Meat Act (21 U.S.C. 71 et seq.), and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (9) "Federal Poultry Products Inspection Act" means the act so entitled, approved August 28, 1957 (21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.)*** and acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto.

            (10) "Firm" means any partnership, association, or other unincorporated business organization

            (11) "Intervening transfer or storage" means no longer in possession of meat products.

            (12) "Intrastate commerce" means commerce within the state.

            (13) "Label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon the immediate container (not including package liners) of any article.

            (14) "Labeling" means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter (1) upon any article or any of its containers or wrappers, or (2) accompanying such article.

            (15) "Meat broker" means any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of buying or selling carcasses, parts of carcasses, meat, or meat food products of cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines on commission, or otherwise negotiating purchases, sales, or transactions of such articles other than for his own account or as an employee of another person, firm or corporation.

            (16) "Meat food product" means any product capable of use as human food which is made wholly or in part from any meat or other portion of the carcass of any cattle, sheep, swine, poultry or goats, excepting products which contain meat or other portions of such carcasses only in a relatively small proportion or historically have not been considered by consumers as products of the meat food industry, and which are exempted from definition as a meat food product by the commissioner under such conditions as he may prescribe to assure that the meat or other portions of such carcasses contained in such product are not adulterated and that such products are not represented as meat food products. The term as applied to food products of equines shall have a meaning comparable to that provided in this paragraph with respect to cattle, sheep, swine, poultry and goats.

            (17) "Misbranded" shall apply to any carcass, part thereof, meat or meat food product under one or more of the following circumstances:

            (a) If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;

            (b) If it is offered for sale under the name of another food;

            (c) 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 imitated;

            (d) If its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading;

            (e) If in a package or other container unless it bears a label showing (a) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and (b) an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count; provided, that under Clause (b) of this Subparagraph (e), reasonable variations may be permitted, and exemptions as to small packages may be established by regulations prescribed by the commissioner;

            (f) If any work, 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 unlikely to be read and understood by the ordinary individual under customary conditions of purchase and use;

            (g) 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 regulations of the commissioner, unless, (a) it conforms to such definition and standard, and (b) 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 foods;

            (h) If it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a standard or standards of fill of the container have been prescribed by regulations of the commissioner, 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;

            (i) If it is not subject to the provisions of Subparagraph "g", unless its label bears (a) the common or usual name of the food, if any there be, and (b) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each such ingredient; except that spices, flavorings, and colorings may, when authorized by the commissioner, be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each; provided that, to the extent that compliance with the requirements of Clause (b) of this Subparagraph "i" is impracticable, or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the commissioner;

            (j) If it purports to be or is represented for special delivery uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral and other dietary properties as the commissioner, after consultation with the secretary of agriculture of the United States, determines to be, and by regulations prescribed as, necessary in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for such uses;

            (k) If it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating the fact, provided, that to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this Subparagraph "k" is impracticable, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the commissioner, or;

            (l) If it fails to bear, directly thereon or on its container, as the commissioner may by regulations prescribe, the inspection legend and, unrestricted by any of the foregoing, such other information as the commissioner may require in such regulations to assure that it will not have false or misleading labeling and that the public will be informed of the manner of handling required to maintain the article in a wholesome condition.

            (18) "Official certificate" means any certificate prescribed by regulations of the commissioner for issuance by an inspector or other person performing official functions under this Chapter.

            (19) "Official device" means any device prescribed or authorized by the commissioner for use in applying any official mark.

            (20) "Official inspection legend" means any symbol prescribed by regulations of the commissioner showing that the article was inspected and passed in accordance with this Chapter.

            (21) "Official mark" means the official inspection legend or any other symbol prescribed by regulations of the commissioner to identify the status of any article or animal under this Act.

            (22) "Pesticide chemical," "food additive," "color additive," and "raw agricultural commodity" shall have the same meanings for purposes of this Chapter as under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

            (23) "Prepared" means slaughtered, canned, salted, rendered, boned, cut up, or otherwise manufactured or processed.

            (24) "Renderer" means any person, firm, or corporation engaged in the business of rendering carcasses, or parts or products of the carcasses, of cattle, sheep, poultry, swine, goats, horses, mules or other equines.

            Acts 1968, No. 376, §1. Amended by Acts 1970, No. 615, §§1, 2; Acts 1985, No. 73, §1; Acts 2010, No. 496, §1, eff. June 24, 2010; Acts 2015, No. 267, §1, eff. June 29, 2015; Acts 2026, No. 555, §1, eff. See Act.

*21 U.S.C.A. 71 et seq. (Transferred; See Now, 21 U.S.C.A. §601 et seq.).

**21 U.S.C.A. 301 et seq.

***21 U.S.C.A. 451 et seq.