News Update
Dec. 29, 2010

Nutrition Facts Panels to Appear on Labels of Popular Cuts of Meat and Poultry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced Dec. 29 that it will be making important nutritional information readily available to consumers on 40 of the most popular cuts of meat and poultry products. Under a new rule, packages of ground or chopped meat and poultry will feature nutrition facts panels on their labels. Additionally, whole raw cuts of meat and poultry will also have nutrition facts panels either on their package labels or available for consumers at the point of purchase.

“More and more, busy American families want nutrition information that they can quickly and easily understand,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “We need to do all we can to provide nutrition labels that will help consumers make informed decisions. The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) work hard to provide the Dietary Guidelines for Americans every five years, and now consumers will have another tool to help them follow these guidelines.”

The nutrition facts panels will include the number of calories and the grams of total fat and saturated fat a product contains. Additionally, any product that lists a lean percentage statement, such as “76% lean,” on its label also will list its fat percentage, making it easier for consumers to understand the amounts of lean protein and fat in their purchase. The panels should provide consumers with sufficient information at the store to assess the nutrient content of the major cuts, enabling them to select meat and poultry products that fit into a healthy diet that meets their family’s or their individual needs.

Examples of the major cuts of raw, single-ingredient meat and poultry products include, but are not limited to, whole or boneless chicken breasts and other pieces, or beef whole cuts such as brisket or tenderloin steak. Examples of ground or chopped meat and poultry products include, but are not limited to, hamburger and ground turkey. This rule is effective on Jan. 1, 2012. The Federal Register notice announcing this rule can be found at http://federalregister.gov/a/2010-32485.

Consumers with questions about the new labels should call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854). The hotline is available in English and Spanish and can be reached from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Producers or retailers seeking further information should contact Rosalyn Murphy-Jenkins, Director, Labeling and Program Delivery Division, Office of Policy and Program Development, Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD 20705, or by phone at 301-504-0878.

— Release by USDA.

NCBA Statement on Mandatory Nutrition Labeling Final Rule

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Kristina Butts issued the following statement on the final rule published in the Federal Register Dec. 29, 2010, titled “Nutrition Labeling of Single-Ingredient Products or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products.”

“NCBA supports nutrition labeling on beef products and is pleased to see USDA moving forward with this effort. According to comments submitted by NCBA, cattle producers support the inclusion of all nutrients found in beef being included on the label. We believe this information is helpful in educating the public on the important contribution beef makes to a healthy diet. WhileNCBA believes consumers have the right to know what nutrients are found in meat, we also realize retailers and others in the food-production chain will face significant new costs associated with this final rule. We wish USDA would have granted our request for an 18-24 month implementation period, and will continue our longstanding history of working with retailers, consumers and USDA on the implementation of the rule. Additionally, we are hopeful USDA will work with industry to find the least disruptive and most cost-effective way to implement the rule.

“U.S. cattlemen and women are committed to meeting consumer demand for nutritious, affordable, high-quality and safe beef products. It has taken nearly 20 years to reach this point, but we are pleased USDA is moving forward with this rule to provide consumers with beef nutrition information. NCBA will continue efforts to educate consumers about the nutritional profile of beef products to help them make educated purchasing decisions. For more than 20 years, cattle producers have supported informing and educating consumers of the nutritional profile of beef and NCBA has become a trusted leader on this issue. In fact, in the 1980s, the beef industry joined with other stakeholders in the meat industry to form the Nutrition Labeling Coalition for Meat and Poultry to support transparent nutrition labeling and developed the original Nutri Facts program long before nutrition labeling was required even on a voluntary basis. We look forward to working with all stakeholders on the implementation of this rule.”

— Release by NCBA.

Cornstalks Less Valuable as Feed Source

Cornstalks are the main winter feed resource for many cattle producers in the Midwest. But increasingly, their value is being questioned.

A University of Nebraska–Lincoln (UNL) report points out that both stalks and cattle have changed considerably in the past 20 years. For starters, today’s modern combines are leaving much less grain in the field. Growers used to estimate that 4% of the grain would be left in the field. Today, the report says, the amount is probably half that. Less grain means cows need to be supplemented earlier so they don’t go out of condition. It also may lower the eventual production capacity of the calves.

Today’s stalks may also be less nutritious. Modern hybrids draw more nutrients out of the stalk and into the kernel. The UNL report says genetic modifications for insect resistance and reduced lodging have produced stalks that may be less palatable and provide fewer digestible nutrients.

On the other side, today’s cows are larger and need more forage and often more supplementation than yesterday’s smaller cows. The bottom line — a quarter section of stalks won’t carry as many cows as it once did. Even when stocking adjustments are made, if supplements aren’t also adjusted accordingly, cow performance may suffer.

— Release by Brownfield Ag News Network.

— Compiled by Mathew Elliott, assistant editor, Angus Productions Inc.