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<section article="ghg" article_name="Health - General" number="21-254" title_number="21" title_name="Food, Drugs, and Cosmetics" subtitle_number="2" subtitle_name="Maryland Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>For purposes of this section, an “immediate threat” exists if any meat, seafood, poultry, vegetable, fruit, or any other perishable substance that is intended for consumption as food:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Contains any filthy, decomposed, or putrid substance;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Is poisonous or otherwise would be injurious to health if consumed; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>Is otherwise unsafe.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>If a food poses an immediate threat, it shall be considered a public nuisance.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>If the Secretary finds that a food poses an immediate threat, the Secretary immediately shall destroy the food or otherwise make the food unusable for consumption by human beings.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>The owner of a substance that is destroyed or otherwise made unusable under this section may bring a suit for damages against the Secretary.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>The Secretary shall have the immunity from liability described under § 5–633 of the Courts Article.</text>
  </level>
</section>
