Petition to Define 'Natural' Label

[coquus]

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Regulations_&_Pol...laims/index.asp

The old rule as explained by Mr. Post:

The circumstances under which the use of the term "natural" may be used on the labeling of meat and poultry products are described in Policy Memo 055, "Natural Claims" (enclosed). Policy Memo 055 provides that the term "natural" may be applied only to products that contain no artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients, or chemical preservatives; and the product and its ingredients are not more than minimally processed. Minimally processed products that do not contain these types of ingredients, such as fresh meat and poultry, will automatically qualify for the use of the term "natural" on product labeling.

Comments accepted here until January 11th, 2007:

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/contact_us/Email_...s@fsis.usda.gov

[JasonZ]

Says nothing about feed, so a cow fed ground up beef spines, at risk for BSE ("Mad Cow Disease"), but not containing "artificial ingredients, coloring ingredients, or chemical preservatives" meets the proposed definition of "natural", as does a farmed salmon fed coloring to make its flesh look sashimi quality ...

... and if an antibiotic is manufactured using recombinant DNA technology, so it comes from a yeast or bacteria ... that also is "natural"?

Guess I'll have to provide comments -- thanks for providing the URL!!

Regards,

Jason

Edited December 14, 2006 by JasonZ (log)

[coquus]

Absolutely JasonZ, go with your gut on this one.

[coquus]

Deadline for commentary is closing in, anyone else?