{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/3.2-5120.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/3.2-5120.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/3.2-5120.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/3.2-5120.html"}],"law_id":59931,"edition_id":1,"section_id":59931,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5120","catch_line":"Definitions","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 3-307; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-387; 2008, c. 860.","full_text":"As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement” means all representations disseminated in any manner or by any means, other than by labeling, for the purpose of inducing, or that are likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase of food.\n\t\t“Butter” means the food product generally known as butter, which is made exclusively from milk or cream, or both, with or without common salt, and with or without coloring matter, and containing not less than 80 percent by weight of milk fat, having allowed for all tolerances.\n\t\t“Contaminated with filth” applies to any food not securely protected from dust, dirt, and as far as may be necessary by all reasonable means, from all foreign or injurious contaminations.\n\t\t“Federal act” means the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21 U.S.C. \u00a7 301 et seq.).\n\t\t“Food” means all articles used for food, drink, confectionery, or condiment, for humans or other animals, whether simple, mixed, or compound, and all substances or ingredients used in the preparation thereof.\n\t\t“Immediate container” does not mean package liners.\n\t\t“Label” means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon the immediate container of any article.\n\t\t“Labeling” means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter upon an article or any of its containers or wrappers, or accompanying such article.\n\t\t“Selling of food” means the manufacture, production, processing, packing, exposure, offer, possession, and holding of any such article for sale; the sale of any such article; and the supplying of any such articles in the conduct of any food establishment.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":219483,"text":"As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement” means all representations disseminated in any manner or by any means, other than by labeling, for the purpose of inducing, or that are likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase of food.\n\t\t“Butter” means the food product generally known as butter, which is made exclusively from milk or cream, or both, with or without common salt, and with or without coloring matter, and containing not less than 80 percent by weight of milk fat, having allowed for all tolerances.\n\t\t“Contaminated with filth” applies to any food not securely protected from dust, dirt, and as far as may be necessary by all reasonable means, from all foreign or injurious contaminations.\n\t\t“Federal act” means the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21 U.S.C. \u00a7 301 et seq.).\n\t\t“Food” means all articles used for food, drink, confectionery, or condiment, for humans or other animals, whether simple, mixed, or compound, and all substances or ingredients used in the preparation thereof.\n\t\t“Immediate container” does not mean package liners.\n\t\t“Label” means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon the immediate container of any article.\n\t\t“Labeling” means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic matter upon an article or any of its containers or wrappers, or accompanying such article.\n\t\t“Selling of food” means the manufacture, production, processing, packing, exposure, offer, possession, and holding of any such article for sale; the sale of any such article; and the supplying of any such articles in the conduct of any food establishment.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14562,"edition_id":1,"name":"Adulteration, Misbranding, and False Advertising","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":14561,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:40","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:40","permalink":{"id":197213,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14562,"identifier":"3","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3","url":"\/3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":14561,"edition_id":1,"name":"Food and Drink","identifier":"51","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12965,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:40","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:40","permalink":{"id":197127,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14561,"identifier":"51","token":"3.2\/IV\/51","url":"\/3.2\/IV\/51\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12965,"edition_id":1,"name":"Food and Drink; Weights and Measures","identifier":"IV","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12793,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":197125,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12965,"identifier":"IV","token":"3.2\/IV","url":"\/3.2\/IV\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12793,"edition_id":1,"name":"Agriculture, Animal Care, and Food","identifier":"3.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:53","permalink":{"id":193939,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12793,"identifier":"3.2","token":"3.2","url":"\/3.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":59931,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5120","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/3.2-5120\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5120","metadata":false},{"id":66879,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5121","catch_line":"Authority to adopt regulations; conformity with federal regulations; hearings; enforcement of article; review of regulations","url":"\/3.2-5121\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5121","metadata":false},{"id":69705,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5122","catch_line":"Adulterated food","url":"\/3.2-5122\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5122","metadata":false},{"id":56033,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5123","catch_line":"Misbranded food","url":"\/3.2-5123\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5123","metadata":false},{"id":80698,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5124","catch_line":"Labeling as kosher and halal; penalty","url":"\/3.2-5124\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5124","metadata":false},{"id":60144,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5125","catch_line":"Poisonous or deleterious substance added to food","url":"\/3.2-5125\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5125","metadata":false},{"id":77423,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5125.1","catch_line":"(Effective January 1, 2026) Baby Food Protection Act; testing and labeling requirements for toxic heavy metals","url":"\/3.2-5125.1\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5125.1","metadata":false},{"id":81553,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5126","catch_line":"Prohibited acts; exceptions; Commissioner may seek injunction; penalties","url":"\/3.2-5126\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5126","metadata":false},{"id":62929,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5127","catch_line":"Removal of certain labels from meat packaging prohibited; penalty","url":"\/3.2-5127\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5127","metadata":false},{"id":58591,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5128","catch_line":"Duty of attorney for the Commonwealth when violation reported; Commissioner to give notice","url":"\/3.2-5128\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5128","metadata":false}],"next_section":{"id":66879,"structure_id":14562,"section_number":"3.2-5121","catch_line":"Authority to adopt regulations; conformity with federal regulations; hearings; enforcement of article; review of regulations","url":"\/3.2-5121\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5121","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/3.2-5120\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1966, chapter 702; in 2008, chapter 860<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":197215,"object_type":"law","relational_id":59931,"identifier":"3.2-5120","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5120","url":"\/3.2-5120\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/3.2-5120\/","token":"3.2\/IV\/51\/3\/3.2-5120","dublin_core":{"Title":"Definitions","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 3.2-5120","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement<\/span>” means all representations disseminated in any manner or by any means, other than by labeling<\/span>, for the purpose of inducing, or that are likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase of food.\n\t\t“Butter<\/span>” means the food product generally known as butter<\/span>, which is made exclusively from milk or cream, or both, with or without common salt, and with or without coloring matter, and containing not less than 80 percent by weight of milk fat, having allowed for all tolerances.\n\t\t“Contaminated with filth” applies to any food not securely protected from dust, dirt, and as far as may be necessary by all reasonable means, from all foreign or injurious contaminations.\n\t\t“Federal act<\/span>” means the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title 21 U.S.C. \u00a7 301 et seq.).\n\t\t“Food” means all articles used for food, drink, confectionery, or condiment, for humans or other animals, whether simple, mixed, or compound, and all substances or ingredients used in the preparation thereof.\n\t\t“Immediate container<\/span>” does not mean package liners.\n\t\t“Label<\/span>” means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter upon the immediate container<\/span> of any article.\n\t\t“Labeling<\/span>” means all labels<\/span> and other written, printed, or graphic matter upon an article or any of its containers or wrappers, or accompanying such article.\n\t\t“Selling of food<\/span>” means the manufacture, production, processing, packing, exposure, offer, possession<\/span>, and holding of any such article for sale; the sale of any such article; and the supplying of any such articles in the conduct of any food establishment.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDEFINITIONS (\u00a7 3.2-5120)\n\nAs used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:\n\t\t“Advertisement” means all representations disseminated in any\nmanner or by any means, other than by labeling, for the purpose of inducing, or\nthat are likely to induce, directly or indirectly, the purchase of food.\n\t\t“Butter” means the food product generally known as butter, which\nis made exclusively from milk or cream, or both, with or without common salt,\nand with or without coloring matter, and containing not less than 80 percent by\nweight of milk fat, having allowed for all tolerances.\n\t\t“Contaminated with filth” applies to any food not securely\nprotected from dust, dirt, and as far as may be necessary by all reasonable\nmeans, from all foreign or injurious contaminations.\n\t\t“Federal act” means the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (Title\n21 U.S.C. \u00a7 301 et seq.).\n\t\t“Food” means all articles used for food, drink, confectionery, or\ncondiment, for humans or other animals, whether simple, mixed, or compound, and\nall substances or ingredients used in the preparation thereof.\n\t\t“Immediate container” does not mean package liners.\n\t\t“Label” means a display of written, printed, or graphic matter\nupon the immediate container of any article.\n\t\t“Labeling” means all labels and other written, printed, or graphic\nmatter upon an article or any of its containers or wrappers, or accompanying\nsuch article.\n\t\t“Selling of food” means the manufacture, production, processing,\npacking, exposure, offer, possession, and holding of any such article for sale;\nthe sale of any such article; and the supplying of any such articles in the\nconduct of any food establishment.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 3-307; 1966, c. 702, \u00a7 3.1-387; 2008, c. 860.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}