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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
“Adulterated” shall apply to any livestock product or poultry product under 1 or more of the following circumstances:
(1) If it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render it injurious to health; but in case the substance is not an added substance, such article shall not be considered adulterated under this paragraph, if the quantity of such substance in or on such article does not ordinarily render it injurious to health;
(2) If it bears or contains (by reason of administration of any substance to the livestock or poultry or otherwise) any added poisonous or added deleterious substance (other than 1 which is (i) a pesticide chemical in or on a raw agricultural commodity; (ii) a food additive; or (iii) a color additive) which may, in the judgment of the Secretary, make such article unfit for human food;
(3) If it is, in whole or in part, a raw agricultural commodity and such commodity bears or contains a pesticide chemical which is unsafe within the meaning of § 408 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. § 346a];
(4) If it bears or contains any food additive which is unsafe within the meaning of § 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. § 348];
(5) If it bears or contains any color additive which is unsafe within the meaning of § 706 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. § 379e]; provided, that an article which is not otherwise deemed adulterated under this subdivision or subdivision (3) or (4) of this section shall nevertheless be deemed adulterated if use of the pesticide chemical, food additive, or color additive in or on such article is prohibited by regulations of the Secretary in official establishments;
(6) If it consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid or decomposed substance or is for any other reason unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome or otherwise unfit for human food;
(7) If it has been prepared, packed, or held under insanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth, or whereby it may have been rendered injurious to health;
(8) If it is, in whole or in part, the product of an animal (including poultry) which has died otherwise than by slaughter;
(9) If its container is composed, in whole or in part, of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health;
(10) If it has been intentionally subjected to radiation, unless the use of the radiation was in conformity with a regulation or exemption in effect pursuant to § 409 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act [21 U.S.C. § 348];
(11) If any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom; or if any substance has been substituted, wholly or in part therefor; or if damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner; or if any substance has been added thereto or mixed or packed therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength, or make it appear better or of greater value than it is; or
(12) If it is margarine containing animal fat and any of the raw material used therein consisted in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Delaware Code Title 3. Agriculture § 8704. Adulterated products - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-3-agriculture/de-code-sect-3-8704/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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