By Julie Tomascik
Editor

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released new guidelines aimed at strengthening documentation that supports animal-raising or environment-related claims on meat and poultry product labels.

“USDA continues to deliver on its commitment to fairness and choice for both farmers and consumers, and that means supporting transparency and high-quality standards,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack said. “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.”

The agency encourages the use of third-party certification and greater documentation to substantiate the animal-raising or environment-related claims, such as “grass-fed,” “climate-friendly,” “free-range” and “raised with regenerative agriculture practices.”

USDA is strengthening its guidance on these labels in response to criticism that companies were making claims without backing them up.

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), in collaboration with the agency’s Agricultural Research Service, conducted a study last year to further investigate the accuracy of no-antibiotics claims.

“The action FSIS is taking through the publishing of this guidance today addresses these concerning findings and makes clear that FSIS will take enforcement action against any establishments found to be making false or misleading negative antibiotic claims,” the agency said.

The guideline also recommends companies using “negative” antibiotic claims on labeling implement routine sampling and testing programs to detect antibiotic use in animals prior to slaughter or obtain third-party certification that includes testing. Negative antibiotic claims include “raised without antibiotics” or “no antibiotics ever.”

FSIS said the animal-raising claims such as “raised without antibiotics,” “grass-fed” and “free-range” and environment-related claims such as “raised using regenerative agriculture practices” and “climate-friendly” are voluntary marketing claims. They highlight certain aspects of how the source animals for meat and poultry products are raised or how the farmer maintains or improves the land or implements environmentally sustainable practices.

FSIS reviews the documentation submitted by the companies for these claims. The labels can only be used on consumer products if approved by the agency.

The guideline on these claims was last updated by FSIS in 2019.

“FSIS has the authority to collect samples any time it believes a product is mislabeled with any claim covered by the guidance,” the agency said. “Moreover, FSIS may consider future additional actions, including random sampling and rulemaking, to further strengthen the substantiation of animal-raising and environment-related claims.”