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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 9Pt. 3Ch. 4Art. 8§ 18871 Meat Inspection Requirements

§ 18871 Meat Inspection Requirements

Food and Agricultural Code·California
AI Summary·Official Text·Key Terms·Related Statutes·References
AI SummaryVerified

§ 18871 Meat Inspection Requirements

This law says that meat and poultry must be checked by an inspector when the animal is killed to make sure it's safe to eat. If meat doesn't have the official 'inspected and passed' stamp, it can be taken away and destroyed.

Key Takeaways

  • •Meat and poultry must be inspected when the animal is killed to make sure it's safe.
  • •If meat doesn't have the official 'inspected and passed' stamp, it can be taken away and destroyed.
  • •This rule helps make sure the meat you buy is safe to eat.

Example

You buy a chicken from a farmer's market, but it doesn't have any official stamps or labels on it.

The law says this chicken could be taken away and thrown out because it wasn't checked by an inspector to make sure it's safe to eat.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 18871 Meat Inspection Requirements

Since it cannot be determined with certainty, by any present known method of inspection, whether meat, including any poultry meat, is unwholesome unless the organs and other tissues of an animal are inspected when slaughtered, and as meat and meat food products, and poultry products which are derived from uninspected livestock or poultry may be unfit for human food, the director, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, shall seize and destroy for human food purposes any meat, meat food product, or poultry product that does not bear the “inspected and passed” stamp, brand, mark, or label which is required by this chapter. (Repealed and added by Stats. 1970, Ch. 1385.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

inspected and passedmeatmeat food productpoultry product

Related Statutes

  • § 18664 Livestock Product Definition
  • § 18872 Inspection Of Livestock Products
  • § 14390 Court Injunctions For Violations
  • § 18652 Adulterated Livestock Products
  • § 18654 Livestock Broker Definition

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 18871.
View Official Source