Proposed "Natural" Food Labels Sow Confusion |
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January 9, 2007
Consumers have just a short time to let the U.S. Department of Agriculture know that animal welfare should be factored into the labels "natural" and "naturally raised" used on meat, egg and dairy products.
The number of labels and the development of production standards created by food manufacturers, retailers and non-profit organizations is on the rise. Adding to the confusion are the two similar, yet different labels offered by two separate branches of the USDA.
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"It's essential that any meat, egg, or dairy products claiming to be 'natural' require standards that are meaningfully distinguished from those employed in conventional factory farm animal agribusiness," said Miyun Park, vice president of Farm Animal Welfare at The HSUS. "Otherwise, the government is doing a tremendous disservice to consumers and to farm animals."
"Natural" versus "Naturally Raised"
The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service offers policy guidance for producers and processors who want to market products using the "natural" label. The two factors FSIS considers are: (1) whether the product contains any artificial or synthetic ingredients, and (2) whether the product and its ingredients are minimally processed.
The FSIS is developing a set of standards for use of the "natural" label, and some producers have asked the agency to include in its guidelines the way animals are raised.
While the FSIS is considering whether farm animal production practices should be included in the "natural" label standards, the USDA's Agriculture Marketing Service is simultaneously developing standards for products sold under the "naturally raised" label.
No Federal Follow-Through on Other Labels
As the two USDA branches solicit comments on the "natural" and "naturally raised" labels, the standards for other previously discussed labels still remain in the works. The AMS has yet to publish finalized standards for a "grass-fed" label, despite soliciting public input over the past four years. Similarly, after calling for public comments numerous times, the National Organic Program has still not published finalized standards on the meaning of "access to pasture" in the rules for organic animal agriculture.
Rather than announce the creation of additional labels that would apply to meat, egg, and dairy products, the USDA would serve consumers and animals better by finalizing standards regarding the "grass-fed" label and the meaning of "access to pasture" in the rules for organic animal agriculture.
If the USDA creates two new—yet similarly worded—labels, the agency should at the very least reword the "natural" label to say "naturally processed" to distinguish it from the "naturally raised" label. In the alternative, both new labels should incorporate identical and stringent standards of care for animals.
See some of the comments [PDF] submitted by The HSUS.
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Related Links
A Brief Guide to Meat and Dairy Labels and Their Relevance to Animal Welfare
A Brief Guide to Egg Carton Labels and Their Relevance to Animal Welfare
Wondering What The "UEP Certified" Logo Means?
An HSUS Report: The Welfare of Animals in the Meat, Egg, and Dairy Industries
Factory Farms: Polluting the Environment and Getting Away with It
