“Nutrition Facts” Label for Meat and Poultry Products May Use FDA Format

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced that while it is in the process of rulemaking to update the “Nutrition Facts” label format for meat and poultry products, establishments may voluntarily choose to use the “Nutrition Facts” label format that the FDA finalised in May. FSIS states that as long as the information on the labels is still truthful and not misleading it will not find non-compliance if companies use the FDA format. When FSIS publishes a final rule to update the “Nutrition Facts” label format for meat and poultry products, companies will have to comply with that final rule by the effective date and will no longer be able to use the FDA format if it is different from the FSIS format.

FSIS is requesting comments through 16 December on whether there are any issues or problems with allowing companies to voluntarily use the FDA’s “Nutrition Facts” label format on meat and poultry products until FSIS issues a final rule that addresses nutrition labelling requirements.