ACTION ALERT:
Contact USDA Officials by Jan. 28: Tell Them Standards for ‘Naturally Raised’ Label are not Adequate
1/10/08
In November, the USDA released its proposal for label claims related to “naturally raised” livestock and meat. The phrase “naturally raised” is a critical concept and implies much meaning to most consumers. Such a label should help consumers who want an assurance that they are supporting sustainable production methods with their shopping dollars. The proposed standards can be viewed at www.landstewardshipproject.org/pdf/natural_label_proposal.pdf.
The proposed standards miss the mark
Amazingly, these proposed standards focus primarily on the use of drugs and growth hormones and mention nothing about access to pasture or animal housing issues such as use of cages and crates.Feeding regimens, access to pasture and housing systems are critical to farmers and consumers and need to be addressed in the final standards. If they are not addressed completely, the “natural” label will be almost meaningless as a label that ensures a certain level of sustainable production standards.
On the bright side, experience with the grass-fed standard (see http://www.landstewardshipproject.org/pr/07/newsr_071015.htm)shows that public input can have a positive impact on final USDA rules related to food labels.
The public has until Jan. 28 to comment on the proposed rule. To comment, log onto www.regulations.gov, or send written comments to:
Naturally Raised Marketing Claim
Room 2607–S, AMS,
USDA, 1400 Independence Avenue SW.
Washington, DC 20250–0254
You can also comment via fax at: 202-720–1112.
All comments should reference the docket number (AMS–LS–07–0131; LS–07–16).
Please send your comments to the Land Stewardship Project at tlvdp@landstewardshipproject.org as well so we can keep track of what USDA is hearing about this issue.
Here’s what the USDA needs to hear about the final rule:
- The proposed standards for “naturally raised” are completely inadequate and if USDA insists on issuing such a label it must adequately cover feeding and housing issues.
- According to a Consumer Reports food labeling poll*, 88 percent of consumers expect that “natural” should mean “natural diet.” Under a “naturally raised” specification, the feed eaten by the animals should predominantly be the type of food they would eat under natural circumstances.
- Any “Naturally Raised” label must include specifications for how the animals are housed, including assurances that they are not crated or caged. In the same Consumer Reports poll, 83 percent of respondents said “natural” should mean “raised in a natural environment.” The animals should have access to pasture during the growing season and access to the outdoors in a species-appropriate fashion year-round. Humane animal handling procedures should be employed on the farm or ranch.
- In USDA’s own words, marketing labels should “say what they mean and mean what they say in common language.” USDA should issue a “no antibiotics” label and a “no growth stimulant” label. These are very important standards, but by themselves do not mean “naturally raised.” Separate, clean and clear standards should be set for these labels and for six years a group of advocates for sustainable agriculture has been working with the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service to craft such labels.
- Make “natural” mean what consumers think it means or scrap it!
More information
For more information on what needs to be included in the final rule to create a meaningful “naturally raised” label standard, contact the Land Stewardship Project’s Terry VanDerPol at tlvdp@landstewardshipproject.org or 320-269-2105.
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* The telephone survey was conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center in June 2007, and involved 1,004 adults. The margin of error was +/- 3.2 percent at a 95 percent confidence level. More information on the poll is at www.greenerchoices.org/products.cfm?product=crfood&pcat=food.
