Agriculture and Food

Regulatory Services

Rule R70-520: Wholesome Food Standards

Effective Date: 07/08/2026

Admin. Code Reference: R70-520

Rule Type: Current Rule

R70. Agriculture and Food, Regulatory Services.

R70-520. Wholesome Food Standards.

R70-520-1. Authority and Purpose.

(1) Section 4-5-104 authorizes this rule.

(2) The department establishes these standards of identity, operational requirements, and labeling standards for specific

food commodities to ensure food safety and prevent economic fraud.

R70-520-2. Definitions.

Definitions in Sections 4-5-102 and 4-5-502 and the following terms apply to this rule:

(1) "Blossom honey" or "Nectar honey" means honey that comes from the nectar of plants.

(2) "Cleaned wheat" means field wheat containing not more than 1.0% inert and foreign material and not more than

5.0% shrunken and broken kernels.

(3) "Comb honey" means honey stored by bees in the cells of freshly built broodless combs and sold in sealed whole

combs or sections.

(4) "Field wheat" means the grain of common, club, or durum wheat which, after removal of dockage, consists of 50%

or more of one of these wheats.

(5) "Table cleaned wheat" means field wheat containing not more than 0.5% inert and foreign material and not more

than 5.0% shrunken and broken kernels.

(6) "Water vending machine" means a self-service device that, upon insertion of payment, dispenses unit servings of

water in bulk without the necessity of replenishing the device between each vending operation.

R70-520-3. Honey Standards and Labeling.

(1) A person may not label a food as "honey" or "raw honey" if it contains any added sweetener, flavoring, coloring, or

other food additive.

(2) A person shall ensure that food labeled as "honey" or "raw honey" meets the composition standards described in

Section 4-5-502.

(3) A person may sell a food product that combines honey with other ingredients, such as flavorings, spices, or

sweeteners, provided that the person:

(a) distinguishes the product from "honey" by using a descriptive name that accurately identifies the added ingredients,

including:

(i) honey blend;

(ii) flavored honey; or

(iii) honey with the name of the ingredient; and

(b) declares all added ingredients in the ingredient statement in accordance with 21 CFR Part 101.

(4) A person shall label honey and honey products in accordance with the following federal and state requirements:

(a) 21 CFR Part 101, Food Labeling;

(b) 21 CFR Section 102.5, Common or usual name for nonstandardized foods; and

R70-520-4. Shellfish Safety.

(1) The department incorporates by reference the National Shellfish Sanitation Program (NSSP) Guide for the Control

of Molluscan Shellfish: 2023 Revision.

(2) A person who offers shellfish for sale in Utah shall comply with the requirements of the NSSP Guide.

R70-520-5. Wheat Standards and Retail Labeling.

(1) A process shall label wheat intended for human consumption as one of the following based on the standards in

Section R70-520-2:

(a) field wheat;

(b) cleaned wheat; or

(2) A processor may not sell wheat for human consumption that does not meet the "Cleaned Wheat" standard.

(3) A processor shall ensure that wheat packaged for retail sale complies with the labeling requirements of 21 CFR

Part 101.

R70-520-6. Enrichment of Flour and Cereal Products.

(1) The department incorporates by reference the federal standards of identity for enriched flour and cereal products in

21 CFR Part 137 and 21 CFR Part 139.

(2) A person may sell an unenriched counterpart of a flour or cereal product at retail only if the principal display panel

prominently shows the word "unenriched" in a type size at least one-half the height of the product name.

(3) A person who sells flour to a distributor or processor shall provide a certificate assuring that the final product

conforms to these enrichment standards.

R70-520-7. Water Vending Machine Operations.

(1) An operator shall comply with the following source and construction requirements:

(a) vended water shall be obtained only from a public water system that complies with the Department of

Environmental Quality safe drinking water rules;

(b) a water vending machine shall comply with the construction and performance standards of the National Sanitation

Foundation (NSF) or the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA);

treatment or disinfectant unit fails; and

(d) a machine shall have a backflow prevention device for every connection to a water supply.

(2) An operator shall maintain a water vending machine according to the following standards:

(a) clean and sanitize the vending area and nozzle of each machine at least once every 14 days;

(b) maintain a cleaning and maintenance log for each machine and make the log available for department inspection;

and

(3) If a microbiological sample is positive for coliform, an operator shall immediately:

(a) stop operation of the machine;

(b) sanitize the machine; and

(4) An operator shall display the following labeling and identification information:

(a) the source of the water;

(b) the specific method of treatment used, such as reverse osmosis, carbon filtration, or ultraviolet light; and

R70-520-8. Compliance and Enforcement.

(1) Food that does not meet the standards of identity or labeling requirements of this rule is misbranded.

(2) The department may follow the tagging, embargo, and destruction procedures in Section 4-5-202 for any product in

violation of this rule.

KEY: food safety, honey, wheat, flour enrichment, shellfish safety program, water vending machines, labeling

Date of Last Change: July 8, 2026

Notice of Continuation: March 21, 2022

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 4-2-103, 4-5-104, 4-5-502