Food Companies’ Claims Get More Attention From The USDA

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has put out new rules for food companies that put comments about animal welfare and the environment on the labels of meat and chicken products. These changes are meant to make sure that promises like “Climate-Friendly,” “Raised Without Antibiotics,” and “Grass-Fed” are true and backed up by strong proof.

This project builds on what the USDA has already been doing to protect people from confusing and false labels and to follow through on President Biden’s order to encourage competition in the American economy.

Increasing The Standards For Openness And Fairness

Tom Vilsack, the secretary of agriculture, said that the USDA is committed to giving farms and customers fair treatment and choices. He said, “These updates will help to level the playing field for businesses that are truthfully using these claims and ensure people can trust the labels when they purchase meat and poultry products.”

The USDA wants to support honesty and high standards in the food business by making companies answer for what they say.

What the Environmental Working Group Does to Push For Change

A well-known activist group called the Environmental Working Group (EWG) has been a strong supporter of tighter rules on climate-related claims on food labels. The EWG called out Tyson’s Brazen Beef for using the phrase “climate-friendly” without giving enough proof.

Scott Faber, senior vice president for government relations at EWG, praised the USDA’s new rules and called them a “shot across the bow” to companies that make climate claims that can’t be proven.

According to Faber, responsibility is very important. He said, “Lost in all the government jargon is a simple message to food companies: Back it up.” It would be nice if food companies could show us the proof when they say that certain foods are better for the environment.

Faber says that the USDA has now told food companies that they need to prove that their climate claims are true and can be checked.

Understanding Claims About Raising Animals And The Environment

Claims about raising animals, like “Raised Without Antibiotics,” “Grass-Fed,” and “Free-Range,” and claims about the environment, like “Raised using Regenerative Agriculture Practices” and “Climate-Friendly,” are optional marketing claims.

These marks are meant to draw attention to certain aspects of how meat and poultry animals are raised or how farmers use sustainable methods to keep or improve their land.

Food companies must show proof to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) that these claims are true, according to rules set by the USDA. The FSIS then looks over the paperwork and only if it’s okay can these claims be put on the labels of the products.

The last time these rules were changed was in 2019, so this new version is a big step toward making sure that the standards are higher.

What Advocacy Groups Have Said About It

People have mixed feelings about the USDA’s new rules. Some like them, while others think they are not enough to make a real difference. Acting head and senior attorney for the Animal Welfare Institute’s Farmed Animal Program, Zack Strong, said that the new rules are not enough.

“The USDA’s updated guidelines are largely meaningless in effecting real change,” Strong told us. He wants third-party certification of claims about animal care to protect farms, animals, consumers, and small businesses from misleading labels and unfair competition.

Strong said they were worried that the current rules let businesses make up their own meanings without any penalties. “Whenever people see claims like “humanely grown,” they assume that the animals got better care than usual in the business. “The USDA keeps letting companies make up their own definitions with almost no consequences,” he said.

Putting An Emphasis On Third-Party Certification And Strong Paperwork

The USDA’s new rules strongly urge third-party approval to back up claims about growing animals and the environment. Third-party approval means that outside groups check that the farm is following the rules for caring for animals and the environment. This process helps make sure that food companies’ claims are true and don’t confuse people.

The updated rules also say that claims about caring for animals and the environment need to be backed up with stronger evidence. Companies that say “negative” things about antibiotics, like “Raised Without Antibiotics” or “No Antibiotics Ever,” should set up regular testing and sample programs to find out if their animals were given antibiotics before they are killed.

They can also get approval from a third party that includes testing. The changes were made after looking at sample data, public comments, petitions, and feedback from many different groups.

Taking Action And Being Responsible

That’s right, the FSIS has made it clear that it will take action against any businesses that make fake or misleading claims about antibiotics. This stance shows that the USDA wants to keep food industry standards high and make sure that people can trust the labels on meat and chicken goods.

Overall, the new rules from the USDA are a step toward making food labels more clear and accountable. The USDA wants to protect customers and make the market more fair by holding businesses to higher standards.

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