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Indiana Food Safety Rules

The intent of the Indiana Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act is to promote public health awareness and well-being and to protect the citizens of the state. Its aim is to also be uniform wherever it can with the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. According to the Sanitary Requirements for Food Establishments chapter of the act, food is defined as anything that's used as food, drink, condiment or confectionery. This refers to anything that is mixed, compound or simple. It also includes anything used to prepare these food substances.

  1. Labeling

    • The state of Indiana has labeling regulations for foods. The rules aren't complied with unless the information on the label is also on the outside of the food's wrapper or container or if it can be read through the outside wrapper or container. If the food item is labeled, repacked or processed in a different plant after it has originally been processed, it's then deemed to be exempt from the above labeling rule as long as it follows all the other regulations of the act.

    Misleading Advertising

    • If a food item's label is misleading, the article is alleged to be mis-branded. This is also true if an advertisement is alleged to be untrue because it is deemed to be misleading. To determine whether an advertisement and/or label is misleading, the government will take into account representations suggested or made by word, statement, sound, device, design or any combination of these methods. It will also take into consideration the extent to which the ad or label goes to hide any facts about the food.

    Prohibited Acts

    • It's against the law in Indiana to sell any food product that has been mis-branded or altered in any way. It's also against the law to physically mis-brand or alter any food and to receive it. In addition, you can't refuse access to any record of altering or mis-branding an item, neither can you stop the government from collecting and inspecting any such food.

    Penalties

    • Anybody who commits a prohibited act is considered to be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. However, if it was done to purposely mislead or defraud the public, it is considered to be a Class D felony. If a person is found guilty, the penalty is typically a fine up to $1,000 for every violation per day.

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