Chap. 9.—An ACT to prevent the sale or the offering or exposure for sale
of deleterious foods; providing for the seizure and destruction of such
foods and fixing penalties for violations of the act. (H. B. 23.)

Approved February 5, 1916.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That
it shal] be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell
or to offer or expose for sale for human food any article which
has been prepared, handled or kept where the sanitary condi-
tions are such that the article is rendered unhealthy, unwhole-
some, deleterious, or otherwise unfit for human food, or which
consists in whole or in part of diseased, filthy, decomposed or
putrid animal or vegetable matter.

2. The dairy and food commissioner, his agents or assist-
ants, and all peace and health officers shall have the power and
are required to seize any and all articles which are offered or
exposed for sale for human food, which have been prepared,
handled, or kept where the sanitary conditions are such that
the article is rendered unhealthy, unwholesome, deleterious or
otherwise unfit for human food, or which consist in whole or in
part of diseased, filthy, decomposed or putrid animal or vege-
table matter; and shall deliver the same forthwith to and before
the nearest police judge or justice of the peace, together with
all information obtained, and said police judge or justice of the
peace shall, upon sworn complaint being filed, issue warrant
for the arrest of any person charged in any such complaint with
a violation of the provisions of this act, and shall proceed to try
the case. Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any
of the provisions of this act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor
and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than ten nor more
than one hundred dollars, and the article or articles of food in
question shall be destroyed.

3. The dairy and food commissioner, his agents or assist-
ants and all peace and health officers in the execution of the
provisions of this act, shall have full right to enter and inspect
all places in which any articles of human food are stored, offered
or exposed for sale; and any person, firm or corporation who
shall hinder or obstruct any of the said officers in the discharge
of the authority or duty imposed by the provisions of this act,
shall be guilty of a violation of the same.

4. The public health being involved, an emergency is de-
clared to exist, and this act shall take effect from its passage.

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