FDA Rule Targets Substances Approved for Use in Meat and Poultry Production

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued a final rule, effective
May 6, 2013, that amends federal meat and poultry products inspection
regulations to remove sodium benzoate, sodium propionate and benzoic acid
from the list of substances prohibited for use in meat or poultry products.

According to FSIS, after considering the comments and petitions it received,
as well as confirming that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had no
objections to the safety of the substances, the agency has determined “that
sodium benzoate, sodium propionate, and benzoic acid, under the conditions
proposed in the petitions, are both safe and suitable for use as antimicrobial
agents in certain RTE [ready-to-eat] meat and poultry products.”

FSIS said that new uses of these substances in meat or poultry products will
continue to be approved by FDA for safety and by FSIS for suitability. See
Federal Register, March 7, 2013.