PRINTER'S NO. 3079
No. 2249 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY BISHOP, WASHINGTON, GOOD, B. SMITH, HALUSKA,
KELLER, HENNESSEY, READSHAW, DALEY, LAUGHLIN, YOUNGBLOOD,
SCAVELLO, THOMAS, STETLER, SAYLOR, CRUZ, LEDERER, OLIVER AND
RIEGER, DECEMBER 10, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL DEVELOPMENT,
DECEMBER 10, 2003
AN ACT
1 Requiring restaurants to provide notice of the use of monosodium
2 glutamate; and imposing penalties.
3 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
4 hereby enacts as follows:
5 Section 1. Short title.
6 This act shall be known and may be cited as the MSG
7 Notification Act.
8 Section 2. Definitions.
9 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
10 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
11 context clearly indicates otherwise:
12 "Manager." An individual who manages a restaurant.
13 "Operator." A person that operates a restaurant.
14 "Owner." A person that owns a restaurant.
15 "Restaurant." An establishment which offers prepared food
16 for sale to the public.
1 Section 3. Notice.
2 (a) Requirement.--If a restaurant offers for sale food which
3 contains any amount of monosodium glutamate, the restaurant
4 shall provide notice as follows:
5 (1) At a prominent location near each place of entry for
6 the restaurant, a statement that monosodium glutamate is used
7 in food in the restaurant. The statement under this paragraph
8 shall be in bold block lettering, at least 1/4 inch high.
9 (2) Next to each menu item which contains monosodium
10 glutamate, a statement that monosodium glutamate is used in
11 that item. The statement under this paragraph shall be in
12 type equivalent to the type of the menu item.
13 (b) Designator.--The initials MSG shall be used in the
14 notices under subsection (a).
15 Section 4. Penalty.
16 (a) Initial offense.--Except as set forth in subsection (b),
17 any owner, operator or manager that intentionally, knowingly,
18 recklessly or negligently violates section 3 commits a summary
19 offense.
20 (b) Subsequent offenses.--A person that, after being
21 sentenced under subsection (a), intentionally, knowingly,
22 recklessly or negligently violates section 3 commits a
23 misdemeanor of the third degree.
24 Section 10. Effective date.
25 This act shall take effect in 90 days.
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