Conference for Food Protection

2020 Biennial Meeting

Issue View | Council I | 2020 Scribe Packet

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Issue Number: Council I 032

Issue History

This issue was submitted for consideration at a previous biennial meeting, see issue: 2018-I-011 ; the recommended solution has been revised .

Title

Whole Muscle Intact Beef Labeling

Issue you would like the Conference to consider

The Food Code language with regard to Whole Muscle Intact labeling requirement be removed and language within the Food Code align with the Food Safety and Inspection (FSIS) labeling requirements of mechanically tenderized beef products.

On May 18, 2015, Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) published a final rule to establish labeling requirements for raw or partially cooked mechanically tenderized beef products (Descriptive Designation of Needle- or Blade-Tenderized (Mechanically Tenderized) Beef Product (80 FR 28153)). The rule amends the regulations by adding 9 CFR 317.2(e)(3).

The new labeling requirements provide household consumers, official establishments, restaurants, and retail stores the information they need to distinguish a cut of beef that is an intact, non-tenderized product, from a non-intact, mechanically tenderized product.

With this requirement, those cuts of beef that are not manipulated can be considered as WHOLE MUSCLE, INTACT BEEF if they are not labeled with the requirement as set forth by FSIS.

Field inspections of retail food establishments have shown that facilities are in compliance with the FSIS requirement and are meeting the labeling requirements of mechanically tenderized beef steak products.

Public Health Significance

The requirement that steaks, to meet the lower cooking requirements of a surface temperature of 145 F with no consumer advisory, be labeled as WHOLE MUSCLE, INTACT BEEF no longer applies. As long as beef steak packaging does not have the required labeling, they can be considered WHOLE MUSCLE, INTACT BEEF.

Recommended Solution: The Conference recommends...

The Conference recommends....

That a letter be sent to the FDA requesting language with regard to Whole Muscle Intact labeling requirement be removed and language within the Food Code align with the Food Safety and Inspection (FSIS) labeling requirements of mechanically tenderized beef products.

Supporting Attachments

Word File