USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service released new guidelines aimed at strengthening documentation in support of environmental or animal-raising labeling claims on meat and poultry products.
This comes after a recent study found antibiotics in livestock raised for the no-antibiotics market.
USDA called for meat and poultry companies to do more to verify claims that the products are raised antibiotic-free.
“The action FSIS is taking through the publishing of this guidance today addresses these concerning findings and makes clear that FSIS will take enforcement action against any establishments found to be making false or misleading negative antibiotic claims,” the agency said.
FSIS said animal-raising claims such as “raised without antibiotics,” “grass-fed” and “free-range,” and environment-related claims that include “raised using regenerative agriculture practices” and “climate-friendly” are voluntary marketing claims.
