USDA Approves First Non-GMO Label for Meat, Poultry, Liquid Egg Products

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Food Safety and Inspection
Service has reportedly approved a Non-GMO Project certification seal and
“Non-GMO” statement on labels for products from animals that did not
consume feed containing genetically modified (GM) ingredients, such as
corn, soy and alfalfa. The certification will attest that the meat, poultry and
liquid egg products meet the third-party certifying organization’s standards,
which USDA vetted before approving the label. The agency action followed a
petition filed by the owner of Mindful Meats, which makes and sells organic
grass-fed beef to Northern California restaurants and retailers, and two other
companies, Hidden Villa Ranch and Pitman Farms. According to Mindful
Meats’ statement, “this is the first time that a U.S. government agency has
approved a non-GMO label for beef.” See The New York Times, June 20, 2013;
Mindful Meats Blog, June 21, 2013.