USDA said it is working to strengthen the substantiation of animal-raising claims, protecting consumers from false and misleading labels.
“Consumers should be able to trust that the label claims they see on products bearing the USDA mark of inspection are truthful and accurate,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has received much stakeholder input asking the agency to reevaluate its oversight of claims, such as “grass-fed,” “free-range” and “no antibiotics ever.”
USDA will conduct a sampling project to assess antibiotic residues in cattle destined for the “raised without antibiotics” market. The results will determine whether FSIS should require lab testing to make the claim.
FSIS will also issue a revised industry guideline to recommend companies strengthen the documentation submitted to substantiate animal-raising claims.
“Together these actions will be used to guide potential rulemaking on animal-raising claims,” the department said.
