Chapter 97

97.42(8) (8) Interference with inspection. Any person who forcibly assaults, threatens, obstructs, impedes, intimidates or interferes with any person while engaged in the performance of his or her official duties under this section shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned in the county jail not to exceed one year or both.

97.42(9) (9) Tagging of facilities, equipment and product.

97.42(9)(a) (a) When in the opinion of the department, the use of any equipment, utensil, container, compartment, room, or facility which is unclean or unsanitary or improperly constructed could lead to contamination of a meat or poultry product, the department may attach a “Rejected” tag to the item, room, or facility. No equipment, utensil, container, compartment, room, or facility so tagged may be used until made acceptable and released by a department representative, or until that item, room, or facility is replaced with an acceptable item, room, or facility.

97.42(9)(b) (b)

97.42(9)(b)1. 1. When in the opinion of the department any meat or poultry product, or supplies or ingredients used in the processing thereof, may be adulterated or misbranded, or otherwise fail to meet standards or requirements of this section or rules adopted under this section, the department may tag the product, supplies, or ingredients with a “Retained” tag to hold them for further inspection, analysis, or examination. No meat or poultry product, supplies, or ingredients so tagged may be used, removed from the premises, or otherwise disposed of unless released by a department representative. A tagged item may not be retained for more than 30 days without prior notice to the owner or custodian and the right to an immediate hearing.

97.42(9)(b)2. 2. When in the opinion of the department any meat or poultry product, or supplies or ingredients used in the processing thereof, is adulterated or misbranded, or otherwise fails to meet standards or requirements of this section or rules adopted under this section, the department may tag the product, supplies, or ingredients with a “Detained” tag to hold them for destruction or other disposition. No meat or poultry product, supplies, or ingredients so tagged may be used, removed from the premises, or otherwise disposed of unless released by a department representative. A tagged item may not be destroyed or detained for more than 30 days without prior notice to the owner or custodian and the right to an immediate hearing.

97.42(9)(c) (c) No person may alter, deface or remove any tag from facilities, equipment, products or supplies to which it has been attached by a department inspector without the express consent or approval of the inspector or other department representative.

97.42(10) (10) Suspension. The department may, upon written notice, summarily suspend the operations in whole or in part at any establishment for substantial violations of this section or rules issued hereunder when, in the opinion of the department, a continuation of the operation would constitute an imminent danger to public health. The department may, upon written notice, summarily suspend inspection at any establishment for acts punishable under sub. (8) where those acts substantially impair an inspector’s ability to conduct an orderly inspection. Upon suspension of operations or inspection, the operator of the establishment may demand a hearing to determine whether the suspension should be vacated. The department shall, within 5 days after receipt of the demand, hold a hearing and adjudicate the issues as provided in ch. 227. A demand for hearing does not operate to stay the suspension pending the hearing.

97.42(11) (11) Exemption. This section does not apply to owners of poultry with respect to poultry produced on the owner’s farm, provided his or her sales do not exceed 1,000 birds annually, and the birds are labeled and tagged to identify the name and address of the producer and are marked “NOT INSPECTED”. Persons processing more than 1,000 birds but less than 20,000 birds shall be fully subject to the provisions of this section relating to licensing, sanitation, facilities, and practices for ensuring product is not adulterated, except that, if the department determines that the protection of consumers from adulterated poultry products will not be impaired, it may exempt these persons from sub. (3) (a) and (b) provided the birds are labeled or tagged to identify the name and address of the producer and are marked “NOT INSPECTED”.

97.42(12) (12) Substantial or repeated violations. The department may deny, revoke or suspend the license of any person for substantial or repeated violations of this section.

97.42 History History: 1971 c. 270 s. 104; 1973 c. 206; 1975 c. 308, 421; 1977 c. 196 s. 131; 1977 c. 216, 365; 1979 c. 110, 154; 1981 c. 314; 1983 a. 189, 261; 1983 a. 500 s. 44; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 174; 1991 a. 39, 175, 269; 1993 a. 16, 27, 144, 492; 1995 a. 79, 225; 1999 a. 9, 185; 2001 a. 56; 2013 a. 302; 2015 a. 55, 243; 2017 a. 365.

97.42 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. ATCP 55 and 57, Wis. adm. code.

97.43 97.43 Meat from dead or diseased animals.

97.43(1) (1) No meat from any diseased animal, or any dead animal as defined under s. 95.72 (1) (c), may be sold or used for human consumption, or dismembered or stored at premises where other food is sold or prepared for sale.

97.43(2) (2) No carcass meat or other part of any animal shall be fed to food-producing animals or to animals used for human consumption unless it has been thoroughly rendered or cooked.

97.43(3) (3) Subsection (1) shall not apply to meat from animals affected by any disease which does not ordinarily render such meat unfit for human consumption, provided the animals so affected have been slaughtered in establishments where meat inspection is maintained under s. 97.42 or the federal meat inspection act.

97.43(4) (4) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a Class H felony.

97.43 History History: 1971 c. 40 s. 93; 1979 c. 129 s. 6; Stats. 1979 s. 97.43; 1981 c. 66; 1985 a. 229; 1997 a. 283; 2001 a. 109.

97.43 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ATCP 55, Wis. adm. code.

97.43 Annotation This section is not unconstitutionally vague. State v. Ehlenfeldt, 94 Wis. 2d 347, 288 N.W.2d 786 (1980).

97.44 97.44 Identification of meat for animal feed; registration and records of buyers.

97.44(1) (1) No person shall buy, sell or transport any carcasses, parts thereof or meat or meat food products of any animals which are not intended for use as human food, unless they are denatured or otherwise identified as required by rules of the department or are naturally inedible by humans.

97.44(2) (2) Animal feed manufacturers and operators of fur farms, exempt from s. 95.72, shall register their names and business locations with the department if they engage in slaughtering animals or in buying dead animals or parts of the carcasses of such animals. The department, by rule, may require that they keep records of their purchase and disposition of such animals and carcass parts.

97.44(3) (3) As used in this section, “animals” means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, equines, farm-raised deer, as defined in s. 95.001 (1) (ag), and poultry, except in the phrase “animal feed manufacturers”.

97.44 History History: 1975 c. 308; 1995 a. 79; 2001 a. 56.

97.44 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ATCP 57, Wis. adm. code.

97.56 97.56 Kosher meat.

97.56(1) (1) Under this section “kosher” means prepared in accordance with the Jewish ritual and sanctioned by Hebrew orthodox religious requirements.

97.56(2) (2) No person may, with intent to defraud, do any of the following:

97.56(2)(a) (a) Sell or expose for sale any meat or meat preparation, whether raw or prepared for human consumption, and falsely represent the meat or meat preparation to be kosher, and as having been prepared under and of a product or products sanctioned by the orthodox Hebrew religious requirements.

97.56(2)(b) (b) Falsely represent any food product or the contents of any package or container to be kosher and as having been prepared under and of a product or products sanctioned by the orthodox Hebrew religious requirements, by having or permitting to be inscribed on the package or container the word “kosher” in any language.

97.56(2)(c) (c) Sell or expose for sale in the same place of business both kosher and nonkosher meat or meat preparations, either raw or prepared for human consumption, unless all of that person’s window signs and display advertising indicate, in block letters at least 4 inches in height, “Kosher and Nonkosher Meat Sold Here”.

97.56(2)(d) (d) Expose for sale in any show window or place of business both kosher and nonkosher meat or meat preparations, either raw or prepared for human consumption, unless the person displays over each kind of meat or meat preparation so exposed a sign in block letters at least 4 inches in height reading “Kosher Meat”, or “Nonkosher Meat”, as the case may be.

97.56(3) (3) No person, with intent to defraud, may do any of the following:

97.56(3)(a) (a) Sell or expose for sale in any such restaurant or other place where food products are sold for consumption on the premises, any article of food or food preparations that is falsely represented to be kosher and as having been prepared in accordance with the orthodox Hebrew religious requirements.

97.56(3)(b) (b) Sell or expose for sale in any restaurant or other place both kosher and nonkosher food or food preparations for consumption on the premises when not prepared in accordance with the Jewish ritual and not sanctioned by the Hebrew orthodox religious requirements, unless the person’s window signs and display advertising state, in block letters at least 4 inches in height, “Kosher and Nonkosher Food Served Here”.

97.56 History History: 1993 a. 492; 1997 a. 253.

97.57 97.57 Planted or cultivated rice.

97.57(1) (1) In this section:

97.57(1)(a) (a) “Paddy-grown rice” means rice which is mechanically planted, mechanically harvested or cultivated with the use of chemical fertilizers or herbicides.

97.57(1)(b) (b) “Wild rice” means rice which is not mechanically harvested and which is cultivated without the use of any chemical fertilizer or herbicide.

97.57(2) (2) Any wholesaler or supplier who sells or offers for sale any paddy-grown rice which is not blended with any other rice may not label that paddy-grown rice “wild rice” unless he or she includes on the label, immediately before, after or above the largest words “wild rice”, the word “paddy-grown” in legible, boldface print or type which is in distinct contrast to all other printed or graphic material on the label and in a type or print size which is not less than one-half the size of the largest type or print used in the words “wild rice” with which the word “paddy-grown” appears.

97.57(3) (3) No wholesaler or supplier may sell or offer for sale any rice labeled “100 percent natural wild rice” unless that rice is wild rice which is not blended with any other rice.

97.57 History History: 1987 a. 375.

97.59 97.59 Handling foods. No person in charge of any public eating place or other establishment where food products to be consumed by others are handled may knowingly employ any person handling food products who has a disease in a form that is communicable by food handling. If required by the local health officer or any officer of the department for the purposes of an investigation, any person who is employed in the handling of foods or is suspected of having a disease in a form that is communicable by food handling shall submit to an examination by the officer or by a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice nurse prescriber designated by the officer. The expense of the examination, if any, shall be paid by the person examined. Any person knowingly infected with a disease in a form that is communicable by food handling who handles food products to be consumed by others and any persons knowingly employing or permitting such a person to handle food products to be consumed by others shall be punished as provided by s. 97.72.

97.59 History History: 1981 c. 291; 1993 a. 27 s. 298; Stats. 1993 s. 252.18; 2005 a. 187; 2011 a. 161; 2015 a. 55 s. 4040; Stats. 2015 s. 97.59.

97.60 97.60 Coordination; certification.

97.60(1) (1) The department shall enter into memoranda of understanding with other state agencies to establish food protection measures.

97.60(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules that establish a food sanitation manager certification program.

97.60(3) (3) The department shall accept relevant education, training, instruction, or other experience that an applicant has obtained in connection with military service, as defined in s. 111.32 (12g), to count toward satisfying any education, training, instruction, or other experience requirement in the food sanitation manager certification program established under sub. (2) if the applicant demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department that the education, training, instruction, or other experience that the applicant obtained in connection with his or her military service is substantially equivalent to the education, training, instruction, or other experience that is required to obtain an initial certificate under the food sanitation manager certification program.

97.60 History History: 1993 a. 27; 2011 a. 120; 2015 a. 55 s. 4078; Stats. 2015 s. 97.60.

subch. III of ch. 97 SUBCHAPTER III

LODGING AND VENDING MACHINES

97.603 97.603 Motels. Upon the written request of the hotel operator made on forms furnished by the department, the department may classify a hotel as a “motel”, if the operator of the hotel furnishes on-premises parking facilities for the motor vehicles of the hotel guests as a part of the room charge, without extra cost.

97.603 History History: 1983 a. 203 ss. 3, 5; 1983 a. 538 s. 67; 1993 a. 27 s. 66; Stats. 1993 s. 254.63; 2015 a. 55 s. 4079; Stats. 2015 s. 97.603.

97.605 97.605 Lodging and vending licenses.

97.605(1) (1) 

97.605(1)(a) (a) No person may conduct, maintain, manage or operate a hotel, tourist rooming house, vending machine commissary or vending machine if the person has not been issued an annual license by the department or by a local health department that is granted agent status under s. 97.615 (2).

97.605(1)(b) (b) No person may maintain, manage or operate a bed and breakfast establishment for more than 10 nights in a year without having first obtained an annual license from the department.

97.605(1)(c) (c) Except as provided in s. 93.135, no license may be issued under this section until all applicable fees have been paid. If the payment is by check or other draft drawn upon an account containing insufficient funds, the license applicant shall, within 15 days after receipt of notice from the department of the insufficiency, pay by cashier’s check or other certified draft, money order or cash the fees, late fees and processing charges that are specified by rules promulgated by the department. If the license applicant fails to pay all applicable fees, late fees and processing charges within 15 days after the applicant receives notice of the insufficiency, the license is void. In an appeal concerning voiding of a license under this paragraph, the burden is on the license applicant to show that the entire applicable fees, late fees and processing charges have been paid. During any appeal process concerning payment dispute, operation of the establishment in question is deemed to be operation without a license.

97.605(1)(d) (d) If a person or establishment otherwise licensed under this chapter is incidentally engaged in an activity for which a license is required under this section, the department may, by rule, exempt the person or establishment from the license requirement under this section.

97.605(1m) (1m) No county, city, village or town may require any license of, or impose any license or inspection fee on, a vending machine operator, vending machine commissary or vending machine licensed under this chapter.

97.605(1p) (1p) Except as provided in s. 93.135, the department may condition the initial issuance, renewal or continued validity of a license issued under this section on correction by the licensee of a violation of this subchapter, rules promulgated by the department under this subchapter or ordinances or regulations adopted under s. 97.615 (2) (g), within a specified period of time. If the licensee fails to meet the condition within the specified period of time, the license is void.

97.605(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a separate license is required for each hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, or vending machine commissary.

97.605(3) (3) 

97.605(3)(a) (a) A bulk milk dispenser may be operated in a restaurant without a vending machine or vending machine operator license.

97.605(3)(b) (b) A restaurant may operate as a vending machine commissary without a vending machine commissary license.

97.605(4) (4) 

97.605(4)(a) (a) In this subsection:

97.605(4)(a)1. 1. “Business entity” has the meaning given in s. 180.1100 (1g).

97.605(4)(a)2. 2. “Immediate family member” means a spouse, grandparent, parent, sibling, child, stepchild, or grandchild or the spouse of a grandparent, parent, sibling, child, stepchild, or grandchild.

97.605(4)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (d) or (e), no license is transferable from one premises to another or from one person to another.

97.605(4)(d) (d) The holder of a license issued under this section may transfer the license to an individual who is an immediate family member if the holder is transferring operation of the hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, or vending machine to the immediate family member.

97.605(4)(e) (e) A sole proprietorship that reorganizes as a business entity or a business entity that reorganizes as either a sole proprietorship or a different type of business entity may transfer a license issued under this section for operation of a hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, or vending machine commissary to the newly formed business entity or sole proprietorship if the following conditions are satisfied:

97.605(4)(e)1. 1. The hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, or vending machine commissary remains at the location for which the license was issued.

97.605(4)(e)2. 2. At least one individual who had an ownership interest in the sole proprietorship or business entity to which the license was issued has an ownership interest in the newly formed sole proprietorship or business entity.

97.605(5) (5) 

97.605(5)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), all licenses expire on June 30, except that licenses initially issued during the period beginning on April 1 and ending on June 30 expire on June 30 of the following year.

97.605(5)(b) (b)

97.605(5)(b)1. 1. The local health department of a city of the 1st class that has entered into an agreement with the department under s. 97.615 (2) may issue a license for a bed and breakfast establishment required under this section at any time during the year. A license issued under this subdivision shall expire one year from the date of its issuance.

97.605(5)(b)2. 2. The holder of a license for a bed and breakfast establishment may request an extension to the term of a license issued under this section by the local health department of a city of the 1st class that has entered into an agreement with the department under s. 97.615 (2) for the purpose of aligning the annual term of any other license or permit issued to that license holder with the annual term of a license to be issued to that license holder under subd. 1. The local health department may require a license holder that receives an extension under this subdivision to pay a prorated fee in an amount determined by dividing the license fee imposed under s. 97.615 (2) by 12 and multiplying the quotient by the number of months by which the license issued under this section is extended under this subdivision.

97.605 History History: 1975 c. 413 ss. 13, 18; Stats. 1975 s. 50.51; 1983 a. 163, 203; 1987 a. 27, 81, 399; 1989 a. 31; 1993 a. 16 ss. 1491, 1492; 1993 a. 27 s. 67; Stats. 1993 s. 254.64; 1993 a. 183, 491; 1997 a. 191; 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 302; 2013 a. 298; 2015 a. 55 s. 4080; Stats. 2015 s. 97.6705; 2015 a. 197 s. 51; 2021 a. 258.

97.607 97.607 Pre-licensing inspection.

97.607(1) (1) The department or a local health department granted agent status under s. 97.615 (2) may not grant a license to a person intending to operate a new hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, or vending machine commissary or to a person intending to be the new operator of an existing hotel, tourist rooming house, bed and breakfast establishment, or vending machine commissary without a pre-licensing inspection. This section does not apply when a license is transferred under s. 97.605 (4) (d) or (e).

97.607(2) (2) Agents designated by the department under s. 97.615 (1) shall make pre-licensing inspections of vending machine commissaries as required under this subsection and shall be reimbursed for those services at the rate of 80 percent of the pre-licensing inspection fee designated in this subsection. Agents designated by the department under s. 97.615 (2) shall make pre-licensing inspections of hotels and tourist rooming houses and establish and collect pre-licensing inspection fees under s. 97.615 (2) (d).

97.607 History History: 1983 a. 203 ss. 10, 16, 19; 1983 a. 538; 1987 a. 27, 81; 1993 a. 27 s. 68; Stats. 1993 s. 254.65; 2005 a. 302; 2015 a. 55 s. 4081; Stats. 2015 s. 97.607.

97.61 97.61 Vending machine commissary outside the state. Foods, beverages and ingredients from commissaries outside the state may be sold within the state if such commissaries conform to the provisions of the food establishment sanitation rules of this state or to substantially equivalent provisions. To determine the extent of compliance with such provisions, the department may accept reports from the responsible authority in the jurisdiction where the commissaries are located.

97.61 History History: 1975 c. 413 s. 13; Stats. 1975 s. 50.52; 1993 a. 27 s. 70; Stats. 1993 s. 254.67; 2015 a. 55 s. 4083; Stats. 2015 s. 97.61.

97.613 97.613 Fees. Except as provided in s. 97.615 (2) (d) and (e), the department shall promulgate rules that establish, for licenses issued under s. 97.605, license fees, pre-licensing inspection fees, reinspection fees, fees for operating without a license, late fees for untimely renewal, fees for comparable compliance or variance requests, and fees for pre-license review of restaurant plans.