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HomeFood and Agricultural CodeDiv. 9Pt. 3Ch. 5Art. 13§ 19440 Violation Penalties And Fines

§ 19440 Violation Penalties And Fines

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

§ 19440 Violation Penalties And Fines

Key Takeaways

  • •Breaking the rules in this law can get you in trouble: up to 1 year in jail or a $5,000 fine, or both.
  • •If you break the rules again after being punished, or if you lie on purpose to trick people, the punishment is worse: more jail time or a $15,000 fine, or both.
  • •The punishment depends on whether it’s your first mistake or if you did it to cheat someone.

Example

A store owner sells expired food on purpose to make money.

If this is their first time breaking the rule, they could go to jail for up to a year or pay up to $5,000. But if they’ve been caught before or did it to trick customers, they could go to jail for longer or pay up to $15,000.

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

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 19440 Violation Penalties And Fines

Any person who is found guilty of violating any of the provisions of this chapter or the rules and regulations promulgated under this chapter is subject to imprisonment in a county jail for not more than one year or a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or both that imprisonment and fine; but if the violation is committed after a conviction of that person under this section has become final, or the violation is committed with intent to defraud or mislead, the person shall be subject to imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code, or a fine of not more than fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), or both that imprisonment and fine. (Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 303, Sec. 2. (AB 2378) Effective January 1, 2013.)

Last verified: January 23, 2026

Key Terms

violating any of the provisionsintent to defraud or misleadimprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 of the Penal Code

Related Statutes

  • § 18932 Penalties For Violations
  • § 19441 Horsemeat Adulteration Prohibition
  • § 19443 Court Injunctions For Violations
  • § 19444 License Suspension For Violations
  • § 19445 Agricultural Violation Civil Penalties

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Food and Agricultural Code. Section 19440.
View Official Source