USDA releases updated guidelines on meat and poultry labeling

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released updated guidelines on Aug. 28 to help the industry strengthen animal-raising and environment-related label claims on meat and poultry products.

The action builds on the significant work USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels.

“USDA continues to deliver on its commitment to fairness and choice for both farmers and consumers, which means supporting transparency and high-quality standards,” states Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “These updates will help to level the playing field for businesses who are truthfully using these claims and ensure people can trust the labels when they purchase meat and poultry products.”

According to the USDA, animal-raising claims such as “raised without antibiotics,” “grass-fed” and “free-range,” as well as environment-related claims such as “raised using regenerative agriculture practices” are voluntary marketing claims highlighting certain aspects of how animals are sourced. 

The documentation submitted by companies to support these claims is reviewed by USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), and the claims can only be included on the labels of meat and poultry products sold to consumers after the agency approves them.

Guidelines

FSIS last updated its guidelines on these claims in 2019. In the revised guideline, FSIS strongly encourages third-party certification to substantiate animal-raising or environment-related claims. 

“Third-party certification of animal-raising or environment-related claims helps ensure such claims are truthful and not misleading by having an independent organization verifying their standards are being met on the farm for raising animals and environmental stewardship,” states USDA. “The revised guidelines also emphasize more robust documentation for environment-related and animal-raising claims.”

The updated guidelines recommend establishments use “negative” antibiotic claims, such as “raised without antibiotics” or “no antibiotics ever” and implement routine sampling and testing programs to detect antibiotic use in animals before slaughter or obtain third-party certification, which includes testing. 

The revisions were informed by sampling data, petitions, public comments on those petitions and feedback from various stakeholders.

Addressing concerns about adverse antibiotic claims, FSIS announced last year the agency would be conducting a study in partnership with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) to assess the veracity of these claims. 

Research

USDA reports FSIS collected liver and kidney samples from 196 eligible cattle at 84 slaughter establishments in 34 states, and ARS analyzed the samples using a method targeting more than 180 veterinary drugs, including various major classes of antibiotics. 

The study found antibiotic residues in approximately 20 percent of samples tested from the “raised without antibiotics” market.

FSIS is now using the publishing as guidance to address these concerning findings and take enforcement action against any establishments found to be making false or misleading negative antibiotic claims. 

Additionally, FSIS has informed the establishments of positive results from the ARS and FSIS study and advised them to conduct a root cause analysis and implement corrective actions. 

FSIS also advised these establishments to determine how antibiotics were introduced into the animal and to take appropriate measures to ensure future products are not misbranded. 

The Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the updated guideline provides further information on the study. 

“FSIS and ARS will publish a peer-reviewed paper with complete results from the study in the near future,” states USDA. “The study findings underscore the need for more rigorous substantiation of such claims.”

The sampling results may lead to additional testing by the agency, and FSIS has the authority to collect samples whenever it believes a product is mislabeled with any claim covered by the guidance. 

FSIS may consider additional actions, including random sampling and rulemaking, to strengthen the substantiation of animal-raising and environment-related claims.

USDA is committed to ongoing stakeholder engagement, and the updated guideline will be open for public comment for 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register.

Melissa Anderson is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.