What Is On the USDA Meat Labeling Nutrition Facts Panel?

A great deal of information is on the USDA meat nutrition facts panel. In fact, as more and more people become concerned with eating a healthy diet, the nutrition labels on food have become more and more important. The United States Department of Agriculture, or USDA, has realized that these nutrition labels have become important to families and individuals and has actually changed the requirements for the nutrition information supplied on the nutrition facts panel on certain meats and poultry.

There is an extensive and detailed list of requirements for meat labels. The details about the labeling of meat products is made available in a 111-page guide available in PDF form from FSIS.USDA.gov.

Because of the new USDA guidelines, however, what is on the USDA meat labeling nutrition facts panel is actually going to change. The new requirements for the information that must be included on these labels will go into effect on January 1, 2012. 

Label Requirements

In general, the nutrition information that must be included under the new requirements that are set forth includes information on:

• The number of calories per serving
• The calories from fat
• The grams of total fat
• The grams of total saturated fat per each serving
• The cholesterol, sodium, protein and vitamins for each serving
• Any product that is labeled as lean will also be required to list the percentage of fat per serving

This nutritional information will allow families and individuals to see sufficient nutritional information about the meats and poultry they decide to purchase.

These requirements for the nutrition facts panel on cuts of meat and poultry were decided upon by a joint effort between the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services as a means to adhere to dietary guidelines, which are evaluated and revised every five years.

Which Meats Must Have These Labels?

The new nutrition facts labels will be required on forty of the most popular cuts of meat and poultry that consumers purchase. The labels will be required on major cuts and single ingredient meat and poultry.

• This includes cuts of meat such as boneless or whole chicken breasts, brisket steak, and tenderloin steak.
• The labels will also be required on chopped meat and poultry products such as ground turkey and hamburger.

This of course is not an all inclusive list, as there are many more cuts of meat and poultry that will require such labels to be provided before being put out for sale. However, it gives you an overview of some of the different types of meats that must be labeled with this nutritional information.

It is believed that providing this nutritional information will lead to consumers making more informed decisions about the food that they are purchasing and eating.

The USDA has also set up a hotline to make the decision for purchasing easier in case the consumer has questions about the new labeling system. This hotline can be reached at 1-888-MPHotline or 1-888-674-6854.