Consumers Union to Vilsack: We Want Better Meat Labels

by: Jill Richardson

Fri Feb 27, 2009 at 08:00:00 AM PST

1. Withdraw the "naturally raised" label - CU criticizes the current naturally raised claim because it only means that the animal was raised without certain antibiotics, animal byproducts, and growth promotants. In a poll, consumers want the label to mean the animal:
   • Had a diet free of chemicals, drugs and animal byproducts (86%)
   • Was raised in a natural environment (85%)
   • Ate a natural diet (85%)
   • Was not cloned or genetically engineered (78%)
   • Had access to the outdoors (77%)
   • Was treated humanely (76%)
   • Was not confined (68%)

2. Close loopholes in Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)

3. Close loopholes in "grass fed" standard - In November 2007, a new standard for a "grass fed" label went into effect. However, any company already using a "grass fed" claim was grandfathered in and allowed to continue making the claim, even if they didn't meat the standards.

4. "Harmonize" meat marketing claims across meat, poultry and dairy items - Consumers get confused when labels mean different things on meat, dairy, and eggs. For example, the grass fed standard currently only applies to ruminants (cud-chewing animals like cows) but the label also appears on poultry, milk, and eggs.

5. Define "raised without antibiotics" label claim:

   While most consumers believe that this claim means no antibiotics or antimicrobial drugs were administered, there is in fact no standard for the term.

6. Ensure consistency of "organic" label to scope of products covered - Mostly this is a request for the USDA to clean up the standards for "organic" farmed fish. This standard is currently in progress and quite frankly, it stinks. The current standard the USDA is considering allows "organic" fish to eat non-organic food. WTF?

7. Maintain "treated with irradiation" labeling for meat from irradiated surface cuts - The USDA is currently considering a request from the American Meat Institute to allow meat irradiation without labeling. Please, oh please, USDA - don't do this!