Wisconsin Administrative Code
Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection
ATCP 55-89 - Food, Lodging, and Recreation Safety
Chapter ATCP 81 - Cheese Grading, Packaging And Labeling
Subchapter II - Grading and Marking Requirements; General
Section ATCP 81.24 - Cheese grade labeling of retail packages

(1) GENERAL. A retail food establishment licensed under s. 97.30, Stats., or a food processing plant licensed under s. 97.29, Stats., may obtain a cheese grade labeling permit from the department. A permit holder may affix a cheese grade label to retail packages of graded cheese purchased in bulk by the permit holder if the bulk lot has been graded as Wisconsin Certified Premium Grade AA, Wisconsin Grade A or Wisconsin State Brand and the cheese is cut, packaged and labeled for retail distribution. No retail food establishment may grade label retail packages of cheese without a permit from the department. Retail grade labeling shall comply with this section. A dairy plant licensed under s. 97.20, Stats., may cut, wrap and grade label cheese for retail distribution if the cheese is graded by a cheese grader licensed under s. 97.175, Stats., and the retail packages are grade labeled as required under s. ATCP 81.22.

(2) BULK GRADE DETERMINATION. Retail packages of cheese grade labeled under sub. (1) shall consist of cut and packaged cheese which has been graded under this chapter in a bulk unit. The bulk unit of graded cheese shall bear a grade label applied by a licensed grader or department employee authorized to grade cheese. The bulk unit of graded cheese shall be re-examined by a licensed grader prior to being cut, packaged and labeled.

(3) RETAIL PACKAGE GRADE LABELING. The department shall issue a permit identification number to each grade labeling permit holder under sub. (1). The identification number shall consist of the letter prefix "P", followed by a three digit identification number. When affixing a grade label to retail packages of graded cheese under this section, the permit holder shall print the specified grade and the permit holder's identification number within a miniature outline map of the boundaries of the state of Wisconsin. The type shall be designed and spaced so as to be legible and present a symmetrical appearance.

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