There has been consistent growth in the natural food industry over the past decade, mirroring that of the organic food movement. But how strict are the rules that must be met before the meat can be labelled as such? Marketers make a lot of claims about their products, but it's not always clear what they mean to manufacturers and buyers.
What is an all-natural meat?
According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture, the term "natural" on a meat label or all natural meat indicates that "the product does not contain artificial flavors, colorings, chemical preservatives or other synthetic ingredients" and that the product and its ingredients have undergone minimal processing. There ought to be a disclaimer on the label to clarify this. No preservatives; minimally processed are two such claims.
Sodium nitrite and antimicrobials are common ingredients in cured processed meat products like hams and bacon. These ingredients contribute to the meat's cured flavor, color, and safety. All natural meat labeled as "naturally cured" are either uncured or tastes and looks similar to cured products but is made without the use of sodium nitrite or preservatives.
Is it ok to use the term ‘naturally-raised’?
Live animals that have been raised in accordance with the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) voluntary marketing claim standard known as "Naturally Raised." The marketing claim standard was developed as a requirement for the USDA AMS to independently verify marketing claims made on product labels. No antibiotics were given to the animals (other than ionophores required to prevent parasitism), no animal by-products were supplied to the animals, and no growth promotants were employed on the animals. Due to potential consumer confusion, labels cannot use the term "Naturally Raised" on meat or poultry products. The term "Naturally Raised" can only be used to advertise the sale of live animals. Because of customer curiosity about the origins of their meat and the ambiguity surrounding claims about production practices, rulemaking is being considered to further clarify the definition of "natural" in meat and poultry products.
Conclusion
Let's examine the hot dog, one of America's favorite foods, to learn how to decode the word "natural" on a package of meat. To cure their hot dogs, several manufacturers turn to synthetic nitrates or nitrates, which, according to the description given above, disqualify the product from being classified as natural. It's possible, though, that manufacturers might label their hot dogs as natural if they preserved the meat using cultured celery powder and sea salt, both of which include naturally occurring nitrates and nitrites. The natural label does not tell you anything regarding the animal's living conditions, food, or access to outside space throughout its growth and development, so be aware of this.
Jack Paul is an author of this article.To know more about All natural meat please stay with our website:mcleanmeats.com
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