Contact

Kansas Department of Agriculture
1320 Research Park Drive
Manhattan, Kansas 66502
P: (785) 564-6776
F: (785) 564-6779

Jeremy Schooler
Program Manager
Jeremy.Schooler@ks.gov

Labeling

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USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is responsible for developing the labeling policy for which meat and poultry products are determined to be misbranded or adulterated. By authority of K.S.A. 65-6a24, packaged meat and poultry products prepared for intrastate commerce shall be placed or packed in any receptacle or covering, and the facility shall cause a label to be attached to said can, pot, tin, canvas, or other receptacle or covering. The Kansas Department of Agriculture's Meat and Poultry Inspection Program approves meat and poultry labels for Kansas-inspected facilities based on the applicable FSIS standards by submitting the label application to the plant inspector in charge. Meat products not amenable to the Kansas Meat and Poultry Act must still comply with the applicable labeling rules. All retail labels must be field approved by the area supervisor. All final labels with the KDA approval stamp must be received by the facility before labeling, inspected, and passed product must be passed with the new label.

K.S.A. 65-6a18 defines the food "label" as "a display of written, printed or graphic matter upon the immediate container (not including package liners) of any article" and defines "labeling" as "all labels and other written, printed or graphic matter (1) upon any article or any of its container or wrappers or (2) accompanying such article."

The steps to initiate label approval include:

Begin label design, including the mandatory labeling features. (Label Submission Form)
Ensure placement and prominence requirements for each mandatory feature of the label.
All meat products subject to a standard of identity must comply with the applicable regulations.
Submit product formulation, method of preparation, HACCP category, and any special claims on the label form for inspector verification of ingredients and restricted ingredient calculations.

Regulatory Label Requirements

USDA / FSIS Label Requirements 9 CFR 317

Located on Principal Display Panel

Product Name 317.2(c)1, 317.2(e)
Special Handling Statement 317.2(c)6, 317.2(k)
Legend and Establishment Number 317.2(c)5, 317.2(i)
Net Weight Statement 317.2(c)4, 317.2(h)
Mandatory for retail sale products. Random weight retail products can have statement on application "net weight applied prior to retail sale" instead of net weight statement.

Information Panel

Ingredients Statement 317.2(c)2, 317.2(f), 317.2(j)
Signature Line 317.2(c)3, 317.2(g)
Nutrition Facts 317.300 is optional, if eligible for small business exemption, 317.400

Mandatory Feature Displayed Anywhere on Labeling

Safe Handling Instructions 317.2(c)6, 317.2(l)

Safe Handling Instructions label

Food Additives Fact Sheet

USDA / FSIS Additives in Meat and Poultry Products

Food additives are defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as any substance used to provide a technical effect in foods. As provided in the KDA Meat and Poultry Inspection Act, K.S.A. 65-6a24, any additive proposed for use in a meat or poultry product, the technical function and condition of use, must meet regulatory requirements of 9 CFR 424.21.

Nutrition Labeling Information

USDA/FSIS Regulations and Policies/Nutrition Labeling

USDA/FSIS Notice - Nutrition Labeling of Single-Ingredient Products and Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products

Allergies and Food Safety Fact Sheet

Country of Origin Labeling for Meat and Chicken Fact Sheet

USDA / FSIS Country of Origin Labeling for Meat and Chicken

The Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law requires retailers to notify their customers of foods covered under the COOL law to be labeled with categories depending on where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered.

The four Country of Origin labeling categories are:

Product of the U.S.
Eat from animals born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States or from animals present in the United States on or prior to July 15, 2008.
Product of the U.S., Country X or (as applicable) Country Y
Meat from animals born in Country X or (as applicable) Country Y, raised and slaughtered in the United States and were not derived from animals imported for immediate slaughter.
Product of Country X, U.S.
Meat from animals imported into the United States for immediate slaughter, and processing.
Product of Country X
Foreign meat imported into the United States.

Product Ingredient Guide

USDA / FSIS Natural Flavorings Fact Sheet

What does "natural" mean?
All fresh meat qualifies as "natural." Products labeled "natural" cannot contain any artificial flavor or flavoring, coloring ingredient, chemical preservative, or any other artificial or synthetic ingredient; and the product and its ingredients are not more than minimally processed (ground, for example). All products claiming to be natural should be accompanied by a brief statement which explains what is meant by the term "natural."

Directive 7120.1
Attachment updates substances accepted by FSIS as safe and suitable for use in the production of meat and poultry products not listed in 9 CFR 424.21(c ).
FDA - Spices and Other Natural Seasonings and Flavorings
Includes list of spices and other natural seasonings and flavorings that are generally recognized as safe for their intended use as approved by FDA.
9 CFR 317.8(b)(7)
False or Misleading Labeling or Practices; Specific Prohibitions and Requirements for Labels and Containers
9 CFR 381.118(c)
Poultry Ingredient Statement
21 CFR 182-186
Ingredients Generally Recognized As Safe
- Substances GRAS in food (21 CFR 182)
- Substances affirmed as GRAS in food (21 CFR 184)

Claims Guidance

USDA / FSIS Animal Production Claims

Commonly approved animal production claims include:

Raised Without Added Hormones
Raised Without Antibiotics
Not Fed Animal By-Products
Free Range
Free Roaming
Grass Fed
Corn Fed
Grain Fed
Certified Organic (By Certifying Entity)

Hormones are only approved for use in beef cattle and lamb production. They are not approved for use in poultry, hogs, veal calves or exotic, non-amenable species. Therefore, the phrase "no hormones administered" on a chicken label cannot be approved unless it is followed (directly) with the statement "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones in poultry."

The producer, farmer or feedlot operator must apply for the private label supplying documentation for all production claims. The label is approved for use only at the inspected facility applying for the new label approval. The label does not belong to the producer of the animals.

USDA / FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book

The FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy book is intended for label reviewers or manufacturers, and as a guide for consumers to use in conjunction with the Meat and Poultry Inspection Regulations, FSIS Directives and FSIS Notices. Upon receipt of the label application, consideration is given to suitability of ingredient statements, preparation and packaging so as not to mislead the consumer with a meat and poultry product label.

USDA / FSIS Food Recall Fact Sheet

A food recall is a voluntary action by a manufacturer or distributor to protect the public from products that may cause health problems from adulterated or misbranded product.

On May 8, 2012, FSIS published the final rule, “Requirements for Official Establishments to Notify FSIS of Adulterated or Misbranded Product, Prepare and Maintain Written Recall Procedures, and Document Certain Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points System Plan Reassessments” (77 FR 26929).

FSIS Directive 8080.1 Recall of Meat and Poultry Products

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