The USDA has announced a two-month delay in enforcement action for nutritional labeling of ground or chopped meat or poultry products and single-ingredient products to March 1, 2012, instead of Jan. 1.
Nutrition information for these products will be required either on their label or at the point-of-purchase (POP) by either sign or brochure, unless an exemption applies.
The Nutrition Labeling Coalition for Meat and Poultry requested a six-month delay in a letter to USDA on Aug. 12, 2011.
USDA, however, said the two-month delay “will ensure that industry has sufficient time to comply with the final rule.”
The food industry had argued that it would take six months to make point-of-purchase and nutrition facts panel materials available and conduct Food Safey and Inspection Service (FSIS) webinars as well as make any necessary technology changes to scales, etc.
