(WASHINGTON) – The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has posted for public comment the United States Cattlemen’s Association’s (USCA) petition for rulemaking on the definitions of “beef” and “meat”. The deadline for letters of support is April 10th.
USCA filed the petition for rulemaking due to the increasing amount of product, development, and investment into “fake meat”—also known as protein alternatives. Our petition requests USDA FSIS to limit the use of the terms “beef” and “meat” to products only derived from livestock that
More information below. For additional questions, please contact USCA Director of Policy and Outreach Lia Biondo at lia@wssdc.com or (202) 870-1552.
Click here for USCA's Petition
Comments may be sent to the following:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food Safety and Inspection Service
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-3700
Attention: Ms. Mary Porretta, Petitions Manager
Mr. Matthew Michael, Director, Issuances Staff,
Office of Policy and Program Development
Petition “18-01”
There is no online portal, please e-mail support letters to:
Ms. Mary Porretta, Petitions Manager
Mary.Porretta@fsis.usda.gov
Mr. Matthew Michael Director, Issuances Staff, Office of Policy and Program Development
Matthew.Michael@fsis.usda.gov
Writer’s block?
Though it's important that each letter of support is UNIQUE, please feel free to consider the following points while drafting your support letter:
• FSIS should limit the definition of beef to
• FSIS should require that any product labeled as “beef”
• The broader definition of “meat” should also be limited to the tissue or flesh of animals that have been harvested in the traditional manner. This would similarly prohibit product from alternative sources such as a synthetic product from
• The requested definition of “beef” and “meat” should be applicable to all products that use or might use the designation “beef” (or “meat” when marketed as a beef product) regardless of the country of origin. In other words, the definitions should not be limited to just U.S. product.
• Any alternative protein: soy-based, vegetable-based, synthetic protein, cultured cells, etc. should not be allowed to use the terms “meat” or “beef” on their products
• The issue at hand is accurate labeling and relaying correct information to consumers; the current use of terms “beef” and “meat” on alternative protein products that are not derived from livestock is misleading and inaccurate
• The petition does not seek to limit consumer choices, rather, it aims to establish accurate labeling of all products
• Current use of terms “beef” and “meat” on products not derived from cattle raised in the traditional manner creates confusion in the marketplace
• Environmental claims against traditionally raised livestock are being used in marketing claims such as “clean meat”; to U.S. cattle producers, the terms “clean meat” refers to open spaces, livestock grazing on native grasses—NOT a synthetically made product that is built in a sterile laboratory environment
• Today’s U.S. cattle producers are producing more beef products on less acreage and with fewer resources than ever before; the industry remains active in advancing genetics, feed efficiency and sustainability.
• Consumers should not face any confusion at the meat counter; products must be labeled accurately.
USCA 2018
