Thursday, September 17, 2009

USDA Reopens Comments on Use of "Natural"

The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) to seek additional comments from the public on the conditions under which FSIS should permit the claim “natural” in the labeling of meat and poultry products. After considering the more than 12,000 comments on “natural” submitted in response to a Federal Register notice that the Agency issued on Dec. 5, 2006, and the comments presented at a public meeting held by the FSIS on Dec. 12, 2006, FSIS has decided to solicit additional public input.

FSIS is soliciting further comments on numerous issues. More information is available in 74 Federal Register 46951-46957 (Sept. 14, 2009). Comments are due by Nov. 13, 2009.

Additional reading: Ricardo Carvajal, FSIS Has Second Thoughts On Issuing a Proposed Rule to Define “Natural”.