NFU supports USDA's and FDA's joint regulatory framework for lab-grown meat
Roger Johnson, NFU president, is urging the two agencies to provide clarity to consumers as to whether or not they are purchasing meat products raised in the traditional manner or products that were grown in a lab.
“Animal cell culture technology needs to be regulated and should include roles for both the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the FDA,” said Johnson. “It is important that this joint regulatory framework promotes fair competition for producers and the health and safety of consumers.”
Johnson noted that NFU’s member-driven policy opposes labeling alternative protein sources as “meat,” and that common names given to meat and animal products are widely understood by consumers to be the tissue and flesh of animals that have been slaughtered for food.
“Foods produced using animal cell culture technology are not slaughtered, but rather are derived from animal cells grown in a petri dish and other growing media,” he explained. “Thus, NFU opposes labeling of foods produced using cell culture applications as ‘meat’ and as related products such as ‘beef,’ ‘poultry’ and ‘seafood.’”
Johnson urged USDA and FDA to establish and clarify the standard of identity for the term “meat” in order to prevent mislabeling of food in the marketplace.
Johnson said that the US watchdogf has the responsibility under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to deem a food “misbranded” if its labeling is false or misleading, if it is offered for sale under the name of another food or if it is an imitation of another food.
“Labeling foods produced using animal cell culture technology as ‘meat’ and other related products would be false and misleading,” he noted.
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