Under the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA) (21 U.S.C. 601 et seq.), FSIS issues regulations governing the production of meat and meat food products prepared for distribution in commerce.

Under the FMIA, a meat food product is adulterated if, among other circumstances, it bears or contains any poisonous or deleterious substance that may render it injurious to health (21 U.S.C. 601(m) or if it is for any reason unsound, unhealthful, unwholesome, or unfit for human food (21 U.S.C. 601 (m) (3)).