2022 Colorado Code
Title 25 - Public Health and Environment
Article 5 - Products Control and Safety
Part 4 - Pure Food and Drug Law
§ 25-5-411. Definitions of "Misbranding"

1. A food shall be deemed to be misbranded:
   1. If its labeling is false or misleading in any particular;
   2. If its labeling or packaging fails to conform to the requirements of section 25-5-419;
   3. If it is offered for sale under the name of another food;
   4. 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;
   5. If its container is so made, formed, or filled as to be misleading;
   6. 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 net quantity of the contents in terms of weight, measure, or numerical count, which statement shall be separately and accurately stated in a uniform location upon the principal display panel of the label; but, as to such terms of quantity, reasonable variations shall be permitted, and exemptions as to small packages shall be established by regulation prescribed by the department;

   7. If any word, statement, or other information required by or under authority of this part 4 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;
   8. If it purports to be or is represented as a food for which a definition and standard of identity is prescribed by regulations as provided by section 25-5-409, unless it conforms to such definition and standard and 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;
   9. If it purports to be or is represented as:
      1. A food for which a standard of quality has been prescribed by regulations as provided by section 25-5-409 and its quality falls below such standard, unless its label bears, in such manner and form as regulations specify, a statement that it falls below such standard; or
      2. A food for which a standard of fill of container is prescribed by regulations as provided by section 25-5-409 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;

   10. If it is not subject to the provisions of paragraph (h) of this section, unless it bears labeling clearly giving the common or usual name of the food, if any, and, if it is fabricated from two or more ingredients, the common or usual name of each such ingredient; except that spices, flavorings, and colorings, other than those sold as such, may be designated as spices, flavorings, and colorings without naming each; but, to the extent that compliance with the requirements as to such multiple names is impractical or results in deception or unfair competition, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the department. The requirements of this paragraph (j) shall not apply to food products which are packaged at the direction of purchasers at retail at the time of sale whose ingredients are disclosed to the purchasers by other means in accordance with regulations promulgated by the department.
   11. 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 department determines to be and by regulations prescribes as necessary in order to fully inform purchasers as to its value for such uses;
   12. If it bears or contains any artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, or chemical preservative, unless it bears labeling stating that fact; but, to the extent that compliance with the requirements of this paragraph (l) is impracticable, exemptions shall be established by regulations promulgated by the department. The provisions of this paragraph (l) and paragraphs (h) and (j) of this subsection (1) with respect to artificial coloring do not apply to butter, cheese, or ice cream. The provisions of this paragraph (l) with respect to chemical preservatives do not apply to a pesticide chemical when used in or on a raw agricultural commodity which is the produce of the soil.
   13. If it is a product intended as an ingredient of another food and, when used according to the directions of the purveyor, will result in the final food product being adulterated or misbranded;
   14. [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (1)(n) is effective until March 1, 2022.] If it is meat imported from without the boundaries of the United States or if it is a meat product containing such meat, unless it bears labeling stating the fact that it is imported meat or that it contains imported meat. Any person who sells or offers for sale in this state any meat imported from without the boundaries of the United States, or any meat product containing such imported meat, without labeling such meat or meat product stating that it is imported, or contains imported meat, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

       (n) [ Editor's note: This version of subsection (1)(n) is effective March 1, 2022. ] If it is meat imported from without the boundaries of the United States or if it is a meat product containing such meat, unless it bears labeling stating the fact that it is imported meat or that it contains imported meat. Any person who sells or offers for sale in this state any meat imported from without the boundaries of the United States, or any meat product containing such imported meat, without labeling such meat or meat product stating that it is imported, or contains imported meat commits a petty offense.

   15. 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;
   16. 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 pursuant to the provisions of the federal act.

2. Foods which, in accordance with the practice of the trade, are to be processed, labeled, or repacked in substantial quantities at establishments other than those where originally processed or packed shall be exempt from any labeling requirements under this section if such food is not adulterated or misbranded under any provision of this part 4 upon removal from such processing, labeling, or repacking establishment. Regulations adopted under authority of the federal act (21 U.S.C. sec. 345) relating to such exemptions are automatically effective in this state. The department may promulgate additional regulations or amendments to existing regulations concerning such exemptions, but the department may not promulgate any regulation which has the effect of allowing any food which is subject to federal labeling requirements to be exempt from labeling requirements under the law of this state.

Source: L. 57: p. 431, § 11. CRS 53: § 66-22-11. L. 61: p. 416, § 1. L. 63: p. 539, § 1. C.R.S. 1963: § 66-20-11. L. 70: p. 201, § 6. L. 2021: (1)(n) amended, (SB 21-271), ch. 462, p. 3236, § 459, effective March 1, 2022.

Editor's note: Section 803(2) of chapter 462 (SB 21-271), Session Laws of Colorado 2021, provides that the act changing this section applies to offenses committed on or after March 1, 2022.