FSIS Issues Final Rule for Meat and Poultry Products that Contain “Added Solutions”

With an aim to “improve public awareness of product identities by providing truthful and accurate labeling of meat and poultry products,” the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has submitted its final rule for labeling products that contain an “added solution” to the federal Office of Management and Budget for review.

Observing that “without adequate labeling information, consumers cannot distinguish between raw meat and poultry product[s] that contain added solutions and single-ingredient meat and poultry products,” FSIS proposes that all meat and poultry products, raw or partially cooked, that contain at least a 3 percent saline or other liquid solution or marinade, bear a label stating that the product has been “enhanced” with solution. The agency estimates a one-time total cost to modify all federally inspected meat labels of about $80 million.

Issue 523