Improving Accuracy of Meat Labeling

In order to improve accuracy of claims about how many animals are raised, USDA is working to put together a plan that would substantiate claims such as grass-fed or free range. Deputy Undersecretary for Food Safety, Sandra Eskin.

“We are, at this point anticipating strongly recommending that these claims be verified by third-party certification programs”

Eskin explains that USDA is making this multi-step effort to improve accuracy because food safety is paramount.

“The Food Safety and Inspection Service, its authority begins at the slaughterhouse we cannot go back to the farm and verify that what the documentation says is true third-party certification programs which are private they're not government.”

Which Esken says should provide greater accuracy in labeling. And according to the Food Safety Inspection Service website, USDA is efforts are building on the work that USDA has already undertaken to protect consumers from false and misleading labels and to implement President Biden's executive order on promoting competition in the American economy. In addition, USDA Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack says that USDA is taking action to ensure the integrity of animal-raising claims and leveled the playing field for producers who are truthfully using these claims, which Vilsack knows consumers' value and rely on to guide their meat and poultry purchasing decisions.