Food and Agricultural Code section 36606

(a)

Safe and suitable bacteria standards may be adopted by the director for use in specific dairy products except for varieties of hard and soft cheese. Any bacteria strain approved by the director under this section shall appear in the ingredient list of the product. The name of any bacteria strain approved by the director for use in a dairy product for which the standard does not otherwise require use of one or more bacteria strains shall appear with the product name on the principal display panel or panels of the package in letters not less than one-half the height of the letters used in the product name.

(b)

The director shall establish a minimum viable organism count for any bacteria strain approved pursuant to this section in any dairy product for which the standard does not otherwise require use of one or more bacteria strains. The director shall also establish an official test procedure for the purpose of enforcing the minimum bacteria count level in any dairy products for which such a minimum has been established.

Source: Section 36606, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=FAC§ionNum=36606.­ (updated Sep. 22, 1988; accessed Jun. 18, 2026).

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Verified:
Jun. 18, 2026

§ 36606's source at ca​.gov