Govt proposes clearer labelling of meat additives

want to know the Agriculture Department consumer when there are less chicken in their chicken.

A proposed rule target, would require food companies to appropriately labelled other raw meat and poultry when they are plumped by additional solutions such as chicken broth, teriyaki sauce, salt and water. The practice of these ingredients add is common, but many consumers do not know how it goes.

According to USDA, about a third of poultry, 15 percent of beef and 90 percent of the pork can have added ingredients - about 40 percent of all raw, whole pieces of meat. The rule does not apply to minced meat, which may have other added of substances.

"Consumers should be able, an informed choice of memory, to make, must we clear, informative labels provide consumers and therefore, that will help the best decisions about feeding their families," said Elisabeth Hagen, head of food safety in the Department. "It is obvious that some raw meat and poultry labels, even those that our current guidelines may not become clear."

Labels now say that the meat does not contain additional solutions or "Advanced", but they can be visible not for consumers or understandable. When the rules are complete, the label would now be part of the title to product. An example of the new labels would be "Chicken breast - 40% water solution and teriyaki sauce added" according to USDA.

Richard Lobb of the National Chicken Council says that in the question of the poultry industry is split, as some companies add ingredients their poultry and others do not. He said that for those who add ingredients to poultry, the level of the additives typically 15 to 18 percent of the piece is meat.

Red meat processors immediately the rule. The American Institute meat calling it "wasteful" and "unnecessary" and said it would mean that the prices for the consumer to go.

Among consumer groups have pressure became the Department to take action on the practice for several years: the additional ingredients are unhealthy.

"Who wants to pay $4.99 per pound for the addition of water and salt?", said Michael Jacobson, executive Director of the Advocacy Center for Science in the public interest. "" "In addition to financially was customers, delivers a stealth hit of sodium"improved", meat and poultry."

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