§ 106-549.16. Statement of purpose.

§ 106‑549.16. Statement of purpose.

Meat and meat food products are an important source of the nation'stotal supply of food. It is essential in the public interest that the healthand welfare of consumers be protected by assuring that meat and meat food productsdistributed to them are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked,labeled, and packaged. Unwholesome,  adulterated, or misbranded meat or meatfood products are injurious to the public welfare, destroy markets forwholesome, not adulterated, and properly labeled and packaged meat and meatfood products, and results in sundry losses to livestock producers andprocessors of meat and meat food products, as well as injury to consumers. Theunwholesome, adulterated, mislabeled, or deceptively packaged articles can besold at lower prices and compete unfairly with the wholesome, not adulterated,and properly labeled and packaged articles, to the detriment of consumers andthe public generally. It is hereby found that regulation by the Board and cooperationby North Carolina and the United States as contemplated by this and thesubsequent Article are appropriate to protect the health and welfare ofconsumers and otherwise effectuate the purposes of this and the subsequentArticle. (1969, c. 893, s. 2;1971, c. 54, s. 3.)