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RegisterAs most of you know, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) has enacted new requirements in nutritional labeling for meat and poultry products which take effect March 1. To help you understand the new regulations, refer to the basic overview below. For more information, we’ve posted a power point presentation from the USDA which you may find useful. Additional details can be found on the USDA website.
is prepared to help you comply with the new
regulations. Feel free to call me with any questions or specific needs you may
have.
Mark Mattingly
Director of Sales and Marketing
1.800.882.5104
Let’s talk about how to best service your stores.
Overview of USDA/FSIS new requirements re: nutrition labeling
Effective 3/1/2012
Nutritional information must be readily available on popular cuts of raw meat and poultry products in single-ingredient packages. “Readily available” means information must be on the package label or on point-of-purchase materials within close proximity.
Ground and chopped meat and poultry products, while considered major cuts, are handled differently under the regulations. Nutrition labels are required on all ground or chopped meat and poultry products, with or without seasonings. If the retailer makes a claim of lean percentage on their ground or chopped meat, they must also provide a statement of fat percentage.
Some exemptions to the regulations include:
- Ground meat products by small businesses with fewer
than 500 employees - Stores producing less than 100,000 pounds of ground
meat in each category, such as 90/10 or 85/15, etc. - Packages of meat containing more than one
ingredient, such as ground beef mixed with cheese and onions - Products custom slaughtered or prepared and meat
that is ground by the butcher as the customer’s request
Note: The new requirements do not
apply to seafood. The seafood category is governed by the FDA.
