509.292 Misrepresenting food or food product; penalty.

509.292 Misrepresenting food or food product; penalty.

   (1) An operator may not knowingly and willfully misrepresent the identity of any food or food product to any of the patrons of such establishment. The identity of food or a food product is misrepresented if:

   (a) The description of the food or food product is false or misleading in any particular;

   (b) The food or food product is served, sold, or distributed under the name of another food or food product; or

   (c) The food or food product purports to be or is represented as a food or food product that does not conform to a definition of identity and standard of quality if such definition of identity and standard of quality has been established by custom and usage.

   (2) If the food or food product is a fruit or fruit juice, its identity is misrepresented if:

   (a) The description of the fruit or fruit juice is false or misleading in any particular;

   (b) The fruit or fruit juice is served, sold, or distributed under the name of another fruit or fruit juice; or

   (c) A synthetic or flavored drink is sold purporting to be fruit juice.

The term “fresh juice” refers to a juice without additives and prepared from the original fruit within 12 hours or less of sale.

   (3) Any person who violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

History. s. 1, ch. 57-412; s. 482, ch. 71-136; s. 7, ch. 71-157; s. 22, ch. 73-325; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 25, 39, 42, ch. 79-240; ss. 3, 4, ch. 81-161; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 33, 51, 52, ch. 90-339; s. 4, ch. 91-429.