Nutrition Facts Panels to Appear on Labels of Popular Cuts of Meat and Poultry Products

[Guest guest]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service

(FSIS) today announced that it will be making important nutritional

information readily available to consumers on 40 of the most popular cuts of

meat and poultry products. Under a new rule, packages of ground or chopped

meat and poultry will feature nutrition facts panels on their labels.

Additionally, whole, raw cuts of meat and poultry will also have nutrition

facts panels either on their package labels or available for consumers at

the point-of-purchase.

" More and more, busy American families want nutrition information that they

can quickly and easily understand, " said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

" We need to do all we can to provide nutrition labels that will help

consumers make informed decisions. The USDA and the Department of Health and

Human Services work hard to provide the Dietary Guidelines for Americans

every five years, and now consumers will have another tool to help them

follow these guidelines. "

The nutrition facts panels will include the number of calories and the grams

of total fat and saturated fat a product contains. Additionally, any product

that lists a lean percentage statement, such as " 76% lean, " on its label

also will list its fat percentage, making it easier for consumers to

understand the amounts of lean protein and fat in their purchase. The panels

should provide consumers with sufficient information at the store to assess

the nutrient content of the major cuts, enabling them to select meat and

poultry products that fit into a healthy diet that meets their family's or

their individual needs.

Examples of the major cuts of raw, single-ingredient meat and poultry

products include, but are not limited to, whole or boneless chicken breasts

and other pieces, or beef whole cuts such as brisket or tenderloin steak.

Examples of ground or chopped meat and poultry products include, but are not

limited to, hamburger and ground turkey. This rule is effective on Jan. 1,

2012. The Federal Register notice announcing this rule can be found at

http://federalregister.gov/a/2010-32485.

Consumers with questions about the new labels should call the toll-free USDA

Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-). The hotline is

available in English and Spanish and can be reached from l0:00 a.m. to 4:00

p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

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Ortiz, MS, RD

*The FRUGAL Dietitian* <http://www.thefrugaldietitian.com>

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