(a) (1) Except as provided in this subsection or as specified by the Secretary, any meat, meat product, poultry, and all seafood offered or exposed for sale or sold as food shall be offered or exposed for sale and sold by weight.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, the following products may be offered or exposed for sale or sold by weight, measure, or count:
(i) Shellfish;
(ii) Items for consumption on the premises where sold;
(iii) Items sold as 1 of 2 or more different elements, excluding condiments, that comprise a ready-to-eat meal sold as a unit for consumption elsewhere than on the premises where sold; and
(iv) Cooked and ready-to-eat whole chicken or chicken parts that are prepared on the premises.
(b) When meat, poultry, or seafood is combined with or associated with some other food element to form either a distinctive food product or a food combination, the food product or combination shall be offered or exposed for sale, and sold by weight, the quantity representation may be the total weight of the product or combination and a quantity representation is not required for each element of the product or combination.