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Nutritional Labeling Now Required on Meats and Poultry

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 10:52:31 EST

Beginning this month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is now requiring labeling on popular raw meat and poultry products.  The new rule means that consumers will have easy access to nutritional information for packages of ground or chopped meat and poultry.  In all, 40 of the most popular whole, raw cuts of meat and poultry will have the labeling.
 
"Providing nutrition information on meat and poultry products in the store gives shoppers a clearer sense of the options available, allowing them to purchase items that are most appropriate for their families' needs," said Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Elisabeth Hagen. "These new labels mark a significant step in the agency's efforts to help consumers make more informed food purchase decisions."
 
According to the USDA news release on the new regulations, 'The new nutrition facts panels will list the number of calories and the grams of total fat and saturated fat that a product contains. For example, consumers will be able to compare the calories and fat content for ground turkey versus ground beef, or for pork chops versus chicken breasts, right in the store. Additionally, a ground or chopped product that includes on its label a lean percentage statement, such as "85% lean," and is not considered "low in fat" also will list its fat percentage, making it easier for consumers to understand the amounts of lean and fat content in a particular product. Consumers will no longer have to guess which products fit their diets.'
 
'Since 1993, the FSIS has required nutrition labeling for products that are not raw or that contain multiple ingredients,' reported Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President, Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc.  'As one of the leading food labeling laboratories in the nation, EMSL applauds the government's decision to make more nutritional information available to consumers through the new FSIS rule.  EMSL can help manufacturers and retailers of these popular meat and poultry items comply with the new regulations,' he continued.  
 
An online video about nutritional labeling has been produced by EMSL that can be viewed at:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieZHLI08fpQ[/url]
 
To learn more about nutritional labeling or other food testing services, please visit www.FoodTestingLab.com or www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com.
 
About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental and materials testing services and products to professionals and the general public.  The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.