Rhode Island § 21-31-13 - Rhode Island Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics Act

§ 21-31-13. Poisonous or deleterious substance — Regulations as to use.

(a) Any poisonous or deleterious substance added to any food, except where the substance is required in the production of it or cannot be avoided by good manufacturing practice, shall be deemed to be unsafe for purposes of the application of § 21-31-10(1)(ii); but when a substance is required or cannot be avoided, the director of health shall promulgate regulations limiting the quantity in it or on it to the extent that the director of health finds necessary for the protection of public health, and any quantity exceeding the limits fixed shall also be deemed to be unsafe for purposes of the application of § 21-31-10(1)(ii). While a regulation is in effect limiting the quantity of any substance in the case of any food, that food shall not, by reason of bearing or containing any added amount of the substance, be considered to be adulterated within the meaning of § 21-31-10(1)(i). In determining the quality of the added substance to be tolerated in or on different articles of food, the director of health shall take into account the extent to which the use of the substance is required or cannot be avoided in the production of each article and the other ways in which the consumer may be affected by the same or other poisonous or deleterious substances.

(b) To assist the director in carrying out his or her responsibilities under this section, the director is authorized to collect food samples and to provide laboratory analyses to further the purposes of this chapter.