427:1 Declaration of Policy.

Meat and meat food products are an important element in our state's total food supply. To protect the health and welfare of consumers, meat, and meat food products produced and distributed in the state should be wholesome, unadulterated, and properly marked, labeled, and packaged. Allowing the sale or distribution of meat and meat food products that fail to meet this standard would not only endanger the public health, but also disadvantage those livestock producers and meat processors who maintain proper standards. It is hereby found that in order to protect the health and welfare of consumers and maintain the state's infrastructure for producing high quality livestock and meat, it is appropriate that the commissioner, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), regulate livestock production and meat processing.