An Act To Prohibit Certain Uses of Monosodium Glutamate
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §2156, sub-§2 is amended to read:
2. Substances added or omitted.
A. If any valuable constituent has been in whole or in part omitted or abstracted therefrom; or
B. If any substance has been substituted wholly or in part therefor; or
C. If damage or inferiority has been concealed in any manner; or
D. If any substance has been added thereto or mixed or packed therewith so as to increase its bulk or weight, or reduce its quality or strength or make it appear better or of greater value than it is . ; or
E. If monosodium glutamate has been added to the food directly in crystal form by a person selling, offering for sale or serving the food or food product in any retail store, hotel, restaurant or other public eating place.
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §2157, sub-§13, as amended by PL 1991, c. 230, §1, is further amended to read:
13. Monosodium glutamate, MSG. If a person sells, offers for sale or serves in any retail store, hotel, restaurant or other public eating place any food or food product, whether or not in package form, to which that person has added that contains monosodium glutamate directly in crystal form, unless:
A. The package in which that food or food product is offered for sale conspicuously bears a label or stamp indicating that the food or food product contains monosodium glutamate;
B. When the food or food product is offered for consumption and is not packaged, a conspicuous label or sign is placed on the food, immediately next to the food, immediately next to the food's listing on the menu, or in an open manner where the food order or food product is obtained, indicating that the food or food product contains monosodium glutamate; or
C. There is a conspicuously displayed directory to which customers can refer for information on the contents of unpackaged products offered for sale.
summary
This bill prohibits persons selling, offering for sale or serving in any retail store, hotel, restaurant or other public eating place any food or food product from directly adding monosodium glutamate to the food being sold or served.
It also makes the labeling requirements apply to food that already contains monosodium glutamate and deletes references to adding monosodium glutamate in crystal form.