Food may be examined or sampled by the health officer as often as may be necessary to determine freedom from adulteration or misbranding. The health officer may, upon written notice to the owner or person in charge, place a hold order on any food which he determines or has probable cause to believe to be unwholesome or otherwise adulterated or misbranded. Under a hold order, food shall be permitted to be suitably stored. It is unlawful for any person to remove or alter a hold order, notice or tag placed on food by the health officer, and neither such food nor the containers thereof shall be relabeled, repacked, reprocessed, altered, disposed of or destroyed without permission of the health officer, except on order by a court of competent jurisdiction. The owner or person in charge may demand a hearing such as is provided for in BCC 9.06.220, and on the basis of evidence produced at such hearing, or on the basis of his examination in the event a written request for a hearing is not received within 10 days, the health officer may vacate the hold order, or may by written order direct the owner or person in charge of the food which was placed under the hold order to denature or destroy such food or to bring it into compliance with the provisions of this chapter; provided, that such order of the health officer to denature or destroy such food or bring it into compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be stayed if the order is appealed to a court of competent jurisdiction within three days. (1961 code § 6.06.260.)