Chapter 31 — Minnesota Food Law

31.001 Citation This section gives the official name of Chapter 31. The chapter may be called the 'Minnesota Food Law.' 31.002 Policy This section states that Minnesota wants its food rules to match federal rules and other states' rules as much as … 31.01 Definitions This section defines key terms used throughout the Minnesota Food Law. It covers words like 'person,' 'food,' 'sell,' … 31.02 Prohibited Acts This section lists acts that are against the law under the Minnesota Food Law. These include selling adulterated or … 31.021 Determination of Misleading This section explains how to decide if a food label or advertisement is misleading. It says you must look at what the … 31.023 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.03 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.031 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.032 Penalties and Guaranty This section sets the penalties for breaking food laws. A person who violates the prohibited acts is guilty of a … 31.04 Inspection Authority This section gives the Commissioner of Agriculture the power to inspect food factories, warehouses, and vehicles. … 31.041 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.05 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.06 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.07 Price Not Collectible This section says that if food is sold illegally, the seller cannot collect the purchase price in court. No one can be … 31.08 Additional Powers and Authority; Food in Transit This section gives the Commissioner of Agriculture extra powers to inspect food being transported into Minnesota. The … 31.09 Commissioner to Render Certain Food Unsalable This section lets the commissioner and state employees make certain food unsalable if it violates food laws. They can do … 31.095 Denaturing and Labeling This section requires that food originally meant for people but diverted to animal food or seed must be properly … 31.10 Standards, Definitions; Promulgation This section requires the commissioner to set standards for food quality, purity, and composition. These standards … 31.101 Rules; Hearings; Uniformity With Federal Law This section gives the commissioner authority to make rules for enforcing the Minnesota Food Law. It also adopts many … 31.102 Definitions, Standards of Identity; Temporary Permits This section adopts federal standards for food identity, quality, and container fill as Minnesota standards. The … 31.103 Fair Packaging and Labeling Provisions This section requires that consumer food packages follow federal labeling rules, including how to show the net amount of … 31.104 Food Labeling Exemption Rules This section allows the commissioner to create rules exempting certain food from labeling requirements when it will be … 31.11 Rules This section requires the commissioner to create rules for food safety and to prevent fraud in food sales. Any person … 31.115 Lawful to Produce Beverages in Basements or Other Subgrade Areas, Use Buildings for Other Purposes This section makes it legal to produce beverages like soda, beer, and flavored syrups in basements or other below-ground … 31.12 Labeling This section gives the commissioner power to require food labels that show the food's composition, quality, strength, … 31.121 Food Adulteration This section defines when food is considered adulterated. Food is adulterated if it falls under the conditions described … 31.122 Food; Tolerances for Added Poisonous Ingredients This section deals with rules about added poisonous substances, food additives, pesticide chemicals, and color additives … 31.123 Food Misbranding This section defines when food is considered misbranded. Food is misbranded if it falls under the conditions described … 31.124 False Advertising This section says that any advertisement for food is considered false if it is false or misleading in any way. 31.13 Analysis; Evidence This section requires state lab workers to test food samples for the commissioner and determine if the food is … 31.131 Emergency Permit Control This section allows the commissioner to require emergency permits for food manufacturers when there is a risk of … 31.132 Publicity This section allows the commissioner to publish reports about court cases under the Minnesota Food Law and to share … 31.14 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.15 Disposal of Receipts This section explains how fines collected under the food laws are handled. Fines go to the state general fund through … 31.16 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.161 Food; Insanitary Conditions Prohibited This section makes it illegal to operate any food business in filthy, unclean, or unsanitary conditions. This applies to … 31.165 Removal of Insanitary Conditions This section allows the commissioner to order food businesses to fix unsanitary conditions. The business gets written … 31.17 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.171 Employment of Diseased Person This section makes it illegal for a person with a contagious disease to work in a place where food is handled. The … 31.175 Water, Plumbing, and Sewage This section requires food businesses to have proper water supply, plumbing, and sewage disposal that meet state … 31.18 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.185 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.19 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.20 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.21 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.22 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.23 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.24 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.25 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.26 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.27 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.28 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.29 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.30 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.31 Commercial Canneries, Regulation This section defines commercial canneries and puts them under the commissioner's supervision. A commercial cannery is … 31.311 Inspection Under Supervision of Commissioner This section puts the Commissioner of Agriculture in charge of inspecting commercial canneries. The commissioner must … 31.32 Reports; Information Furnished This section requires the commissioner to publish information about conditions found in canning factories. The … 31.33 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.34 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.35 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.36 Rules for Canneries This section gives the commissioner the authority to make rules for how canneries operate. The commissioner can also set … 31.37 Notice of Intention to Operate This section requires canning factory owners to notify the commissioner by June 1 each year whether they plan to … 31.38 Certificate of Inspection, Commercial Canneries; Labels, Brands This section allows the commissioner to give inspection certificates to canneries that follow all laws and rules. The … 31.39 Assessments; Inspection Services; Commercial Canneries Account This section requires commercial canneries to pay assessments for inspection and lab services. The rate is up to half a … 31.391 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.392 Canning in Dwelling or Basement This section bans commercial food canning in houses, dwellings, or building basements. 31.393 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.40 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.401 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.402 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.403 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.404 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.405 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.406 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.41 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.411 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.42 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.421 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.43 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.431 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.435 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.436 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.44 This section has been renumbered. Its subdivisions have been moved to sections 31.91, 32.645, and 31.393 of the … 31.441 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.451 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.461 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.471 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.481 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.491 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.492 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.495 Regulation of Food Salvage Operations This section regulates food salvage operations in Minnesota. It defines distressed food, sets licensing requirements for … 31.50 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.51 Definitions This section defines terms used in the meat and poultry inspection laws. It covers slaughter houses, retail meat … 31.52 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.53 Inspections; Corrective Orders This section gives the commissioner power to inspect meat and poultry plants at any reasonable time. The commissioner … 31.54 Rules This section lets the commissioner make rules about the construction and operation of meat and poultry plants that are … 31.55 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.56 Limitation This section limits when the meat and poultry inspection laws apply. Farmers can slaughter their own animals on their … 31.57 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.58 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.59 Humane Slaughter of Livestock; Definitions This section defines terms related to humane slaughter of livestock. It covers what counts as a 'humane method' of … 31.591 Slaughter Must Be Humane This section requires that all livestock slaughter be done using humane methods. No slaughter operation may use inhumane … 31.592 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.60 Meat Industry Division This section creates the Meat Industry Division within the Department of Agriculture. The division enforces meat, fish, … 31.601 Protection of Meat This section requires meat, fish, fowl, and game sellers to protect their products from dust, flies, and other … 31.602 Sale of Unwholesome Poultry or Game This section makes it a misdemeanor to sell poultry, rabbits, squirrels, or other small animals for food at retail … 31.611 Veal This section makes it illegal to sell veal from calves that were less than four weeks old when killed. Violating this … 31.621 Sale of Horse Meat for Human Consumption This section sets rules for selling horse meat for human consumption. Signs saying 'horse meat sold here' must be … 31.631 Horse Meat Intended for Other Than Human Consumption This section regulates horse meat not intended for human consumption. It must be denatured to look different from … 31.632 Minnesota Approved Meats and Poultry; Use of Label This section allows the commissioner to authorize the 'Minnesota Approved' label on meat and poultry products that have … 31.633 Meat or Poultry Substitutes; Indication on Menu; Penalties This section requires restaurants that serve meat or poultry with fillers or substitutes to clearly note this on their … 31.651 Kosher Products, Unlawful Sale This section sets rules for selling kosher food products in Minnesota. Products labeled kosher must actually be prepared … 31.658 Halal Products This section protects consumers from false claims that food is Halal. It is illegal to sell food as Halal unless it was … 31.661 Marks, Stamps, Tags, Brands, or Labels This section makes it illegal to falsely label food as kosher or Halal, or to tamper with kosher or Halal certification … 31.671 Rules This section gives the Commissioner of Agriculture the power to make rules for enforcing kosher and Halal food labeling … 31.681 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.73 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.74 Honey This section defines honey and sets rules for selling honey products. It is illegal to sell a product as honey if it is … 31.75 Artificial Sweetening Products This section allows the sale of foods and beverages sweetened with artificial sweeteners like saccharin instead of … 31.76 Confections Containing Alcohol This section regulates confections (candy) that contain up to five percent alcohol. These products can only be sold by … 31.77 Sanitation and Products Standards This section sets statewide standards for bakery sanitation and product labeling. No city or local government can impose … 31.781 Declaration of Policy This section declares a state policy to require quality assurance dates on perishable foods. The Department of … 31.782 Definitions This section defines key terms for the food dating laws. 'Perishable food' means food for human consumption that has a … 31.783 Rules, Scope This section gives the commissioner authority to create and enforce rules about food dating. Foods with quality … 31.784 Expiration of Quality Assurance Date This section clarifies that a perishable food product does not have to be removed from store shelves after its quality … 31.785 Regulations of Other States and the Federal Government This section lets the commissioner exempt food products from Minnesota's dating rules if the product already complies … 31.786 Local Ordinances Preempted This section prevents cities, counties, and other local governments from creating their own food dating rules that … 31.787 Enforcement This section gives the commissioner power to enforce the food dating laws. Inspectors can access places where perishable … 31.788 Penalties This section allows anyone harmed by a violation of the food dating laws to sue for damages, plus costs and expenses. 31.789 Exemption This section exempts from the food dating laws any sale that is protected from licensing requirements by the Minnesota … 31.80 Definitions This section defines terms used in the bulk food sales laws. 'Bulk food' means unpackaged food in self-service … 31.81 Scope This section states that the bulk food laws apply to businesses that must be licensed as retail food handlers under … 31.82 Labeling This section requires bulk food containers to have labels showing the product name, list of ingredients in order of … 31.83 Protection This section requires bulk food and containers to be protected from contamination. Containers must have tight-fitting … 31.84 Dispensing This section describes the approved ways to dispense bulk food, including mechanical devices like gravity dispensers and … 31.85 Construction; Materials This section sets construction and material standards for bulk food containers and utensils. They must be metal or … 31.86 Cleaning Frequency This section sets cleaning requirements for bulk food equipment. Dispensing utensils must be cleaned and sanitized at … 31.87 Sign This section requires a sign in the bulk food display area telling customers to use the utensils provided, not to touch … 31.874 Disease Control This section lets the commissioner adopt stricter rules for selling bulk food if a specific dispensing method is found … 31.875 Local Standards This section prevents local governments from adopting bulk food standards that conflict with the state rules. 31.90 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.903 Evidence of Intent; Act of Agent That of Principal This section says that acting as an agent or employee is not a defense for breaking food laws. The actions of employees … 31.905 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.91 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.92 Definitions This section defines terms used in Minnesota's organic food laws. Key terms include 'organic,' 'organic production,' … 31.925 Uniformity With Federal Law This section adopts the federal Organic Foods Production Act as the organic food production law for Minnesota. 31.93 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.94 Organic Agriculture; Commissioner Duties This section directs the commissioner to promote organic agriculture in Minnesota. The commissioner must survey … 31.95 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 31.96 Food Handler Certification This section allows the commissioner to require certification for retail food handlers. Licensed retail food handlers … 31.97 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.56 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.57 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.58 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.59 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.60 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.61 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.62 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.63 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by … 32.64 This section of the Minnesota Food Law has been repealed and is no longer in effect. It was removed from the statutes by …