USDA will release updated meat and poultry label guidelines

Amid the growing consumer concern over the true contents of their food, the director of consumer safety and sustainability at Consumer Union, Urvashi Rangan, sent a letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding a reaffirmation of the labeling requirements for meat and poultry products.

Rangan’s letter, according to Food Safety News, stemmed from three unapproved label claims that the consumer group found on meat packages in grocery stores. These claims are antibiotic free, no antibiotic growth promotants and no antibiotic residues.

“I agree with you on the importance of accurate labeling and understand your concerns about the accuracy of animal-raising claims on meat and poultry labels,” writes Thomas Visack, secretary of the USDA, in response to Rangan’s letter. “In this regard, I can report that FSIS [Food Safety and Inspection Service] has developed updated guidance material to be sent to producers/companies for their use in requesting label approval.”

While Vissack’s letter goes on to point out that these updated documents aren’t ready for public circulation yet, FSIS’s August 2007 guide to federal food labeling requirements for meat and poultry is.

According to the current (2007) requirements, when designing custom labels for meat and poultry products, companies should begin the design with whatever mandatory features the FSIS requires. From there, they can begin to bring in marketing and brand aspects.

In addition, companies should make sure that within the marketing and branding copy on custom labels, that no regulated terms or keywords are used inappropriately. Companies should also make sure that ingredients and components are “properly declared” in the proper section.

Regardless of what changes the new regulations may bring about, companies that are looking to produce informative and marketable custom labels for their meat and poultry products should invest in a Primera LX900 or 400 series color label printer.