Section 20-684
§ 20-684 Legislative intent. The council finds that consumers cannot
be certain that food offered for sale is fresh or that it will remain
fresh for a reasonable period of time after it is purchased. The council
particularly recognizes consumer concern with the freshness of foods
including, but not limited to, meat, poultry, fish, dairy products,
eggs, fruit, vegetables and baked goods. The council further finds that
the food industry's practice of controlling food freshness through coded
dates has proven inadequate for protection of the public. The council
has concluded that a mandatory system of clear and legible dating
accompanied by a statement of recommended conditions of storage is the
best way to assure consumers of the freshness of the foods that they buy
in stores.
Section 20-685
§ 20-685 Perishable foods. It shall be unlawful to sell or offer for
sale any perishable food designated by the commissioner in accordance
with section 20-686 hereof unless there is stamped, printed or otherwise
plainly and conspicuously marked on the top cover or principal panel of
its container or any label affixed thereto the statements indicating
recommended conditions and methods of storage, and the fact that it is
not to be sold after a clearly specified date for human consumption as
food.
Section 20-686
§ 20-686 Regulations. The commissioner shall promulgate regulations
designating those perishable foods which shall come within the scope of
section 20-685 of this subchapter wherever the commissioner shall find
that because of the nature of the commodity, the mode of packaging or
other consideration, such information about the commodity shall be
necessary and proper to provide adequate information to the consumer as
to the perishable nature of such commodity and conditions of storage.
Section 20-687
§ 20-687 Powers of the commissioner. (a) The commissioner shall
receive and evaluate complaints and initiate his or her own
investigations relating to these matters and take appropriate action
related thereto including stop-sale and stop-removal orders where
necessary and proper.
(b) The commissioner shall have the power after reasonable notice and
hearing, to determine the reasonableness of any statement or
representation as to the date and conditions of storage affixed pursuant
to section 20-685 of this subchapter.
Section 20-688
§ 20-688 Penalties. Any person, firm, corporation or association or
agent or employee thereof, who shall violate any of the provisions of
this subchapter or of the regulations promulgated pursuant to section
20-686 shall pay a civil penalty of not less than twenty-five dollars
nor more than two hundred fifty dollars for each violation; and shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not less than
twenty-five nor more than two hundred fifty dollars for each such
violation.
To the extent possible under law, Friends of Devin Balkind for Public Advocate has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to New York City Administrative Code. This work is published from: United States.
Special thanks to Benjarmin Kallos and Thom Neale who made this content publicly available as a bulk download.