Current through the 2024 Regular Session
Section 75-29-601 - Labeling requirements(1) For purposes of this article, "honey" shall mean the sweet, syrupy substance produced by honey bees from the nectar of plants (including honeydew) which the bees collect, transform, deposit, dehydrate and store, ripened and matured in the honeycombs. The consistency can be fluid, viscous, or partly to entirely crystallized. The flavor and aroma vary but are derived from the plant origin. "Honey" may not contain any additional food ingredients, including food additives. Every container of honey or honey products sold, offered or exposed for sale, by an individual, firm, organization or corporation in the State of Mississippi shall have on the outside of each container a paper label, permanent type stamped imprint or embossed material on the container itself, plainly printed in the English language truly certifying the net contents of the container, the name, brand, name and address of the person or processor offering such honey or honey products for sale, and a true statement of the contents contained therein.(2)Adulterated or artificial honey. Any product consisting of honey and a sweetener cannot be labeled as "honey." If any sweetener has been added to honey, it shall be deemed adulterated or artificial. For a honey product consisting of honey and a sweetener, the label shall, among other information, include the following: All ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight: for example, "blend of honey and corn syrup," if the honey product has more honey than corn syrup. (Conversely, "blend of corn syrup and honey," if the honey product has more corn syrup than honey).(3)Value added honey products (flavored or infused honey). All substances added to honey or honey products which enhance or alter the flavor shall be included on the label in the same size font as the word "honey." The label shall include the common or usual name of each ingredient in the ingredient statement in descending order of predominance by weight.(4)Lab-grown honey. Any product outside the definition of honey shall not be considered honey and shall not be labeled as such.(5) It shall be unlawful for any individual, firm, organization or corporation to label and/or sell, offer for sale or expose for sale at the retail level of trade any product as " honey" that does not meet the minimum requirements established by subsection (1) of this section and by the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.(6) It shall be unlawful for any manufacturer or distributor of honey or honey products to use a fictitious name or address on the container label required herein.Laws, 1978, ch. 353, § 1; Laws, 1980, ch. 320, § 1; Laws, 1990, ch. 460, § 1, eff. 7/1/1990.Amended by Laws, 2022, ch. 417, SB 2007,§ 1, eff. 7/1/2022.