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21 U.S.C. § 343

Misbranded food

United States · Title 21 — FOOD AND DRUGS · Status: effective

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21 U.S.C. § 343, Misbranded food, United States, version 1 as recorded 2026-07-09, yourstate.us, https://yourstate.us/provision/454190
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A food shall be deemed to be misbranded— If (1) its labeling is false or misleading in any particular, or (2) in the case of a food to which section 350 of this title applies, its advertising is false or misleading in a material respect or its labeling is in violation of section 350(b)(2) of this title. If it is offered for sale under the name of another food. 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. If its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading. If in package form unless it bears a label containing (1) the name and place of business of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor; and (2) an accurate statement of the quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count, except that under clause (2) of this paragraph reasonable variations shall be permitted, and exemptions as to small packages shall be established, by regulations prescribed by the Secretary. If any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this chapter to appear on the label or 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. If it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity has been prescribed by regulations as provided by section 341 of this title, unless (1) it conforms to such definition and standard, and (2) 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. If it purports to be or is represented as— a food that is pasteurized unless— such food has been subjected to a safe process or treatment that— Unless its label bears (1) the common or usual name of the food, if any there be, and (2) in case it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each such 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 such fruit or vegetable juice contained in the food; except that spices, flavorings, and colors not required to be certified under section 379e(c) of this title 11 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. unless sold as spices, flavorings, or such colors, may be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each. To the extent that compliance with the requirements of clause (2) of this paragraph is impracticable, or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the Secretary. If it purports to be or is represented for special dietary uses, unless its label bears such information concerning its vitamin, mineral, and other dietary properties as the Secretary determines to be, and by regulations prescribes as, necessary in order fully to inform purchasers as to its value for such uses. If it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating that fact, except that to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this paragraph is impracticable, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the Secretary. The provisions of this paragraph and paragraphs (g) and (i) with respect to artificial coloring shall not apply in the case of butter, cheese, or ice cream. The provisions of this paragraph with respect to chemical preservatives shall not apply to a pesticide chemical when used in or on a raw agricultural commodity which is the produce of the soil. If it is a raw agricultural commodity which is the produce of the soil, bearing or containing a pesticide chemical applied after harvest, unless the shipping container of such commodity bears labeling which declares the presence of such chemical in or on such commodity and the common or usual name and the function of such chemical, except that no such declaration shall be required while such commodity, having been removed from the shipping container, is being held or displayed for sale at retail out of such container in accordance with the custom of the trade. If it is a color additive, unless its packaging and labeling are in conformity with such packaging and labeling requirements, applicable to such color additive, as may be contained in regulations issued under section 379e of this title. If its packaging or labeling is in violation of an applicable regulation issued pursuant to section 1472 or 1473 of title 15. Except as provided in subparagraphs (3), (4), and (5), if it is a food intended for human consumption and is offered for sale, unless its label or labeling bears nutrition information that provides— the total number of calories— Upon the expiration of 12 months after November 8, 1990, the Secretary, after providing an opportunity for comment, shall issue guidelines for food retailers offering raw agricultural commodities or raw fish to provide nutrition information specified in subparagraphs (1) and (2). Such guidelines shall take into account the actions taken by food retailers during such 12-month period to provide to consumers nutrition information on raw agricultural commodities and raw fish. Such guidelines shall only apply— Subparagraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) shall not apply to food— During the 12-month period for which an exemption from subparagraphs (1) and (2) is claimed pursuant to this subclause, the requirements of such subparagraphs shall not apply to any food product if— During the 12-month period after the applicable date referred to in this sentence, the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply to any food product which was first introduced into interstate commerce before May 8, 1994, if the labeling for such product does not provide nutrition information or make a claim subject to paragraph (r), if such person provided the notice described in subclause (iii), and if— The notice referred to in subclauses (i) and (ii) shall be given to the Secretary prior to the beginning of the period during which the exemption under subclause (i) or (ii) is to be in effect, shall state that the person claiming such exemption for a food product has complied with the applicable requirements of subclause (i) or (ii), and shall— For purposes of subclauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v)— A dietary supplement product (including a food to which section 350 of this title applies) shall comply with the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (2) in a manner which is appropriate for the product and which is specified in regulations of the Secretary which shall provide that— Except as provided in subclause (vii), the restaurant or similar retail food establishment shall disclose in a clear and conspicuous manner— Subclauses (i) through (vi) do not apply to— In the case of an article of food sold from a vending machine that— In promulgating regulations, the Secretary shall— Except as provided in clauses (A) through (C) of subparagraph (5), if it is a food intended for human consumption which is offered for sale and for which a claim is made in the label or labeling of the food which expressly or by implication— Except as provided in subparagraphs (4)(A)(ii) and (4)(A)(iii) and clauses (A) through (C) of subparagraph (5), a claim described in subparagraph (1)(A)— may not state the absence of a nutrient unless— may not be made with respect to the level of cholesterol in the food if the food contains, as determined by the Secretary by regulation, fat or saturated fat in an amount which increases to persons in the general population the risk of disease or a health related condition which is diet related unless— A claim of the type described in subparagraph (1)(A) for a nutrient, for which the Secretary has not promulgated a regulation under clause (A)(i), shall be authorized and may be made with respect to a food if— A claim submitted under the requirements of clause (G) may be made until— such time as the Secretary issues a regulation— Except as provided in subparagraph (5), a claim described in subparagraph (1)(B) may only be made— A regulation described in subclause (i) shall describe— Notwithstanding the provisions of clauses (A)(i) and (B), a claim of the type described in subparagraph (1)(B) which is not authorized by the Secretary in a regulation promulgated in accordance with clause (B) shall be authorized and may be made with respect to a food if— A claim submitted under the requirements of clause (C) may be made until— such time as the Secretary issues a regulation under the standard in clause (B)(i)— For purposes of paragraph (r)(1)(B), a statement for a dietary supplement may be made if— The Secretary may make proposed regulations issued under this paragraph effective upon publication pending consideration of public comment and publication of a final regulation if the Secretary determines that such action is necessary— to enable the Secretary to review and act promptly on petitions the Secretary determines provide for information necessary to— If— the label or labeling of the supplement fails to list— the supplement— the supplement— If it purports to be or is represented as catfish, unless it is fish classified within the family Ictaluridae. If it purports to be or is represented as ginseng, unless it is an herb or herbal ingredient derived from a plant classified within the genus Panax. If— If it is not a raw agricultural commodity and it is, or it contains an ingredient that bears or contains, a major food allergen, unless either— the common or usual name of the major food allergen in the list of ingredients required under subsections (g) and (i) is followed in parentheses by the name of the food source from which the major food allergen is derived, except that the name of the food source is not required when— A person need not file a petition under paragraph (6) to exempt a food ingredient described in section 321(qq)(2) of this title from the allergen labeling requirements of this subsection, if the person files with the Secretary a notification containing— Notwithstanding subsection (g), (i), or (k), or any other law, a spice, flavoring, coloring, or incidental additive that is, or that bears or contains, a food allergen (other than a major food allergen), as determined by the Secretary by regulation, shall be disclosed in a manner specified by the Secretary by regulation. If it is a dietary supplement that is marketed in the United States, unless the label of such dietary supplement includes a domestic address or domestic phone number through which the responsible person (as described in section 379aa–1 of this title) may receive a report of a serious adverse event with such dietary supplement.

Legislative history

The public laws that enacted or amended this section. Tallies are for the whole bill as it passed each chamber — often an omnibus covering far more than this provision — not a vote on this section alone. The law that originally enacted this section predates the public laws loaded here, so only later amendments are listed.

  • Amended byPub. L. 94-278(H.R. 7988)1976-04-22
    Health Research and Health Services Amendments of 1976
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 95-203(S. 1750)1977-11-23
    Saccharin Study and Labeling Act
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 97-35(H.R. 3982)1981-08-13
    Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 101-535(H.R. 3562)1990-11-08
    Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 102-108(S. 1608)1991-08-17
    A bill to make technical amendments to the Nutrition Information and Labeling Act, and for other purposes.
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 102-571(H.R. 6181)1992-10-29
    To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to authorize human drug application, prescription drug establishment, and prescription drug product fees and for other purposes.
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 103-80(H.R. 2900)1993-08-13
    Nutrition Labeling and Education Act Amendments of 1993
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 103-417(S. 784)1994-10-25
    Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 104-124(H.R. 1787)1996-04-01
    To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to repeal the saccharin notice requirement.
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 105-115(S. 830)1997-11-21
    Food and Drug Administration Modernization Act of 1997
    House: no recorded tallySenate: 98–2
  • Amended byPub. L. 106-554(H.R. 4577)2000-12-21
    Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001
  • Amended byPub. L. 107-171(H.R. 2646)2002-05-13
    Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002
  • Amended byPub. L. 107-188(H.R. 3448)2002-06-12
    Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002
  • Amended byPub. L. 108-282(S. 741)2004-08-02
    Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2003
    House: no recorded tallySenate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 109-462(S. 3546)2006-12-22
    Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act
    House: 203–98Senate: no recorded tally
  • Amended byPub. L. 111-148(H.R. 3590)2010-03-23
    Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act