Tex. Health & Safety Code Section 431.081
Adulterated Food


A food shall be deemed to be adulterated:

(a)

if:

(1)

it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health; but in case the substance is not an added substance the food shall not be considered adulterated under this subdivision if the quantity of the substance in the food does not ordinarily render it injurious to health;

(2)

it:

(A)

bears or contains any added poisonous or added deleterious substance, other than one that is a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity, a food additive, a color additive, or a new animal drug which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 431.161 (Poisonous or Deleterious Substances);

(B)

is a raw agricultural commodity and it bears or contains a pesticide chemical which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 431.161 (Poisonous or Deleterious Substances)(a);

(C)

is, or it bears or contains, any food additive which is unsafe within the meaning of Section 431.161 (Poisonous or Deleterious Substances)(a); provided, that where a pesticide chemical has been used in or on a raw agricultural commodity in conformity with an exemption granted or a tolerance prescribed under Section 431.161 (Poisonous or Deleterious Substances)(a), and such raw agricultural commodity has been subjected to processing such as canning, cooking, freezing, dehydrating, or milling, the residue of such pesticide chemical remaining in or on such processed food shall, notwithstanding the provisions of Section 431.161 (Poisonous or Deleterious Substances) and Section 409 of the federal Act, not be deemed unsafe if such residue in or on the raw agricultural commodity has been removed to the extent possible in good manufacturing practice, and the concentration of such residue in the processed food, when ready to eat, is not greater than the tolerance prescribed for the raw agricultural commodity; or

(D)

is, or it bears or contains, a new animal drug, or a conversion product of a new animal drug, that is unsafe under Section 512 of the federal Act;

(3)

it consists in whole or in part of a diseased, contaminated, filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance, or if it is otherwise unfit for foods;

(4)

it has been produced, prepared, packed or held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered diseased, unwholesome, or injurious to health;

(5)

it is, in whole or in part, the product of a diseased animal, an animal which has died otherwise than by slaughter, or an animal that has been fed upon the uncooked offal from a slaughterhouse;

(6)

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

(7)

it has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity with a regulation or exemption in effect in accordance with Section 409 of the federal Act;

(b)

if:

(1)

any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom;

(2)

any substance has been substituted wholly or in part therefor;

(3)

damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner;

(4)

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;

(5)

it contains saccharin, dulcin, glucin, or other sugar substitutes except in dietary foods, and when so used shall be declared; or

(6)

it be fresh meat and it contains any chemical substance containing sulphites, sulphur dioxide, or any other chemical preservative which is not approved by the United States Department of Agriculture, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (A.P.H.I.S.) or by department rules;

(c)

if it is, or it bears or contains, a color additive that is unsafe under Section 431.161 (Poisonous or Deleterious Substances)(a); or

(d)

if it is confectionery and:

(1)

has any nonnutritive object partially or completely imbedded in it; provided, that this subdivision does not apply if, in accordance with department rules, the object is of practical, functional value to the confectionery product and would not render the product injurious or hazardous to health;

(2)

bears or contains any alcohol, other than alcohol not in excess of five percent by volume. Any confectionery that bears or contains any alcohol in excess of one-half of one percent by volume derived solely from the use of flavoring extracts and less than five percent by volume:

(A)

may not be sold to persons under the legal age necessary to consume an alcoholic beverage in this state;

(B)

must be labeled with a conspicuous, readily legible statement that reads, “Sale of this product to a person under the legal age necessary to consume an alcoholic beverage is prohibited”;

(C)

may not be sold in a form containing liquid alcohol such that it is capable of use for beverage purposes as that term is used in the Alcoholic Beverage Code;

(D)

may not be sold through a vending machine;

(E)

must be labeled with a conspicuous, readily legible statement that the product contains not more than five percent alcohol by volume; and

(F)

may not be sold in a business establishment which derives less than 50 percent of its gross sales from the sale of confectioneries; or

(3)

bears or contains any nonnutritive substance; provided, that this subdivision does not apply to a nonnutritive substance that is in or on the confectionery by reason of its use for a practical, functional purpose in the manufacture, packaging, or storage of the confectionery if the use of the substance does not promote deception of the consumer or otherwise result in adulteration or misbranding in violation of this chapter; and provided further, that the executive commissioner may, for the purpose of avoiding or resolving uncertainty as to the application of this subdivision, adopt rules allowing or prohibiting the use of particular nonnutritive substances.
Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989. Amended by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 439, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1993.
Amended by:
Acts 2015, 84th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1 (S.B. 219), Sec. 3.0964, eff. April 2, 2015.

Source: Section 431.081 — Adulterated Food, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/HS/htm/HS.­431.­htm#431.­081 (accessed Jun. 5, 2024).

431.001
Short Title
431.002
Definitions
431.003
Article Misbranded Because of Misleading Labeling or Advertising
431.004
Representation of Drug as Antiseptic
431.005
Provisions Regarding Sale of Food, Drugs, Devices, or Cosmetics
431.006
Certain Combination Products
431.007
Compliance with Other Law
431.008
Applicability of Chapter to Distressed or Reconditioned Merchandise and Certain Licensed Entities
431.009
Applicability of Chapter to Frozen Desserts
431.010
Applicability of Chapter to Milk and Milk Products
431.011
Applicability of Chapter to Consumable Hemp Products and Manufacturers
431.021
Prohibited Acts
431.022
Offense: Transfer of Product Containing Ephedrine
431.023
Limited Exemption for Distressed Food, Drugs, Devices, or Cosmetics
431.041
Definition
431.042
Inspection
431.043
Access to Records
431.044
Access to Records Showing Movement in Commerce
431.045
Emergency Order
431.046
Violation of Rules
431.047
Violation
431.048
Detained or Embargoed Article
431.049
Removal Order for Detained or Embargoed Article
431.050
Condemnation
431.051
Destruction of Article
431.052
Correction by Proper Labeling or Processing
431.053
Condemnation of Perishable Articles
431.054
Administrative Penalty
431.055
Administrative Penalty Assessment Procedure
431.056
Payment of Administrative Penalty
431.057
Refund of Administrative Penalty
431.058
Recovery of Administrative Penalty by Attorney General
431.059
Criminal Penalty
431.060
Initiation of Proceedings
431.061
Minor Violation
431.081
Adulterated Food
431.082
Misbranded Food
431.083
Food Labeling Exemptions
431.084
Emergency Permits for Foods Contaminated with Microorganisms
431.111
Adulterated Drug or Device
431.112
Misbranded Drug or Device
431.113
Exemption for Certain Drugs and Devices
431.114
New Drugs
431.115
New Animal Drugs
431.116
Average Manufacturer Price
431.117
Priority for Health Care Providers in Distribution of Influenza Vaccine
431.141
Adulterated Cosmetic
431.142
Misbranded Cosmetic
431.161
Poisonous or Deleterious Substances
431.171
Designation of Consumer Commodity as Abusable Synthetic Substance
431.172
Applicability of Chapter to Abusable Synthetic Substance
431.181
Fair Packaging and Labeling
431.182
False Advertisement
431.183
False Advertisement of Drug or Device
431.201
Definitions
431.202
License Required
431.203
Contents of License Statement
431.204
Fees
431.206
Change of Location of Place of Business
431.207
Refusal to License
431.208
Reporting of Purchase Price
431.0211
Exception
431.221
Definitions
431.222
License Required
431.223
Contents of License Application
431.224
Fees
431.225
Expiration Date
431.226
Refusal to Grant License
431.227
Food Safety Best Practice Education Program
431.241
Rulemaking Authority
431.242
Contested Case Hearings and Appeals
431.244
Federal Regulations Adopted as State Rules
431.245
Definition or Standard of Identity, Quality, or Fill of Container
431.246
Removal of Adulterated Item from Stores
431.247
Delegation of Powers or Duties
431.248
Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Agriculture
431.249
Dissemination of Information
431.250
Public Comments for Federal Grants and Contracts
431.271
Definitions
431.272
License Required
431.273
Exemption from Licensing
431.274
License Application
431.276
Fees
431.278
Change of Location of Place of Business
431.279
Refusal to License
431.321
Definitions
431.322
Donation of Unused Drugs to Charitable Medical Clinic
431.323
Circumstances Under Which Donated Drugs May Be Accepted and Dispensed
431.324
Rules
431.325
Limitation on Liability
431.401
Definitions
431.402
License Required
431.403
Exemption from Licensing
431.404
License Application
431.405
Qualifications for License
431.406
Effect of Operation in Other Jurisdictions
431.407
Criminal History Record Information
431.409
Fees
431.410
Change of Location of Place of Business
431.411
Minimum Restrictions on Transactions
431.412
Pedigree Required
431.413
Pedigree Contents
431.414
Refusal to License
431.415
Order to Cease Distribution
431.0495
Recall Orders
431.0585
Civil Penalty
431.0805
Definitions
431.2011
Applicability of Subchapter
431.2031
Effect of Operation in Other Jurisdictions
431.2211
Application of Subchapter
431.2245
Processing of Licensing Fees
431.2251
Change in Location of Place of Business
431.4011
Ongoing Relationship
431.4012
Applicability of Subchapter
431.4031
Exemption from Certain Provisions for Certain Wholesale Distributors
431.4045
Inspection Required
431.4095
Renewal Notification

Accessed:
Jun. 5, 2024

§ 431.081’s source at texas​.gov