Article 36. Kefir Milk—a Cultured Milk of California Food And Agricultural Code >> Division 15. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 5. >> Article 36.

Market milk or market milk combined with nonfat milk from market milk, with or without added market milk solids, flavoring, or seasoning, which is certified raw milk or has been pasteurized and afterwards fermented by Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and Lactobacillus caucasicus may be sold as kefir, reduced-fat kefir, lowfat or light (lite) kefir, or nonfat, skim, or fat-free kefir, or such names as may be characteristic for the product and approved by the secretary. The product may contain harmless edible stabilizers not to exceed six-tenths of 1 percent. It shall contain no more than 10 coliform bacteria per gram and shall be free of molds, yeasts, and other fungi, and other objectionable bacteria that may impair the quality of the product.

Kefir shall contain not less than 3.5 percent milk fat. Reduced-fat kefir shall contain not more than 2.1 percent milk fat. Lowfat kefir shall contain not more than 1.2 percent milk fat. Nonfat, skim, or fat-free kefir shall contain a maximum of twenty hundredths of 1 percent milk fat. Kefir made from goat milk shall contain not less than 2.8 percent of milk fat.

When offered for sale, kefir, reduced-fat kefir, lowfat or light (lite) kefir, and nonfat, skim, or fat-free kefir shall be labeled, on a principal panel of the container, with the name of the product, the name and address of the manufacturer or distributor, and a statement whether it is made from pasteurized milk or certified raw milk. If the name and address of the distributor are used, the factory license number of the manufacturer shall also appear on the carton or container. Kefir shall be labeled "Kefir a Cultured Milk." Reduced-fat kefir shall be labeled "Reduced-fat Kefir a Cultured Milk." Lowfat or light (lite) kefir shall be labeled "Lowfat Kefir a Cultured Milk" or "Light (Lite) Kefir a Cultured Milk." Nonfat, skim, or fat-free kefir shall be labeled "Nonfat Kefir a Cultured Milk," "Skim Kefir a Cultured Milk," or "Fat-free Kefir a Cultured Milk."

Kefir, reduced-fat kefir, lowfat or light (lite) kefir, or nonfat, skim, or fat-free kefir, in liquid form, and with or without fruit added, shall be made from market milk and may be labeled as "Certified Raw," "Certified Pasteurized," or "Grade A."