Georgia § 26-2-26 - When food deemed adulterated.
Full text of Georgia Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 26-2-26 — When food deemed adulterated., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 26-2-26. When food deemed adulterated.
A food shall be deemed to be adulterated 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 food shall not be considered adulterated under this paragraph if the quantity of such substance in such food does not ordinarily render it injurious to health; It bears or contains any added poisonous or added deleterious substance which is unsafe within the meaning of Code Section 26-2-27. In regard to pesticide residues, a food shall be deemed to be adulterated and unsafe if it bears a pesticide residue in excess of a tolerance established by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act or if it bears a residue of a pesticide for which no tolerance has been established or is currently in effect for that food, if such residue appears at a level which is readily quantifiable by methods of assay for pesticide residues employed by the Commissioner on the date of the assay; It consists in whole or in part of a diseased or contaminated, filthy, putrid, or decomposed substance or if it is otherwise unfit for food; It has been produced, prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions whereby it may have become contaminated with filth or whereby it may have been rendered diseased, unwholesome, or injurious to health; It is the product of a diseased animal or an animal that has died otherwise than by slaughter or an animal that has been fed upon the uncooked offal from a slaughterhouse; Its container is composed in whole or in part of any poisonous or deleterious substance which may render the contents injurious to health; Any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom; Any substance has been substituted wholly or in part therefor; Damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner; 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; It is confectionary and it bears or contains any alcohol or nonnutritive article or substance except harmless coloring, harmless flavoring, harmless resinous glaze not in excess of four-tenths of 1 percent, harmless natural wax not in excess of four-tenths of 1 percent, harmless natural gum, and pectin, provided that this paragraph shall not apply to any confection containing less than one-half of 1 percent by volume of alcohol derived solely from the use of flavoring extracts or to any chewing gum by reason of its containing harmless nonnutritive masticatory substances; or It bears or contains a coal-tar color other than one from a batch which has been certified under authority of the federal act. (Ga. L. 1956, p. 195, § 10; Ga. L. 1990, p. 8, § 26; Ga. L. 1990, p. 318, § 1.) Cross references. - Warranties relating to sales of goods generally, § 11-2-312 et seq. Civil action for knowing or negligent selling of unwholesome provisions to another person by use of which damage results to purchaser or his family, § 51-1-23 .
Source: official Georgia text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Georgia § 26-2-26
What does Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 26-2-26 cover?
Section 26-2-26 ("When food deemed adulterated.") is part of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, the codified statutory law of Georgia. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Georgia § 26-2-26?
A common citation format is "Official Code of Georgia Annotated § 26-2-26" (Georgia). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Georgia law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Georgia official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Georgia attorney.
How does Georgia § 26-2-26 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Georgia can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Georgia.