Can Declaration for "Meat" be Listed as "Protein" Instead?
Can Declaration for "Meat" be Listed as "Protein" Instead?
I am aware of the cooking temperature disclaimer on packaging: Recommended serving temperature for meat and vegetables is 165o F. Can the word "meat" be swapped out and "protein" used instead? This disclaimer is on a complete frozen meal package. I was asked to use "protein" instead of "meat" in the disclaimer statement.
If the specific product you are referring to falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the label is required to provide safe handling instructions. USDA is responsible for the regulation of labels for meat and meat products, unless the meat portion of the product is 3% or less raw meat or 2% or less cooked meat. Similarly, the labeling of poultry and poultry products is also under USDA jurisdiction, except for products containing less than 2% cooked poultry. Title 9 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 317.2 (l) requires safe handling instructions on all non-ready-to-eat or otherwise heat-treated meat products, including the phrase, "cook thoroughly." We recommend that you consult your legal counsel to help determine what additional information or warnings may be appropriate for your specific product.