Q - What are United States of America Food and Drug Administration requirements for Imitation Foods?

A - A food that imitates another food is misbranded unless its label bears in type of uniform size and prominence the word "imitation" and immediately thereafter the name of the food imitated (Sec. 403(c)). Under implementing regulations in 21 CFR 101.31(e) a food is an imitation if it is a substitute for, and resembles another food, but is nutritionally inferior to that food. But if the food is not nutritionally inferior to the food it imitates, it is permitted to be labeled descriptively according to the regulations in 21 CFR 101.3(e) and need not bear the term "imitation."

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