WASHINGTON – The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) on Wednesday announced a public meeting to initiate a process to review policies on the use of animal raising claims in meat and poultry.

The meeting will be Oct. 14, 2008, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, 480 L'Enfant Plaza, SW., Washington, D.C. FSIS and the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will host the public meeting to discuss the issue and solicit public comments. The agenda and other related will be available prior to the meeting on FSIS' Web site at http://www.fsis.usda.gov/News_&_Events/.

FSIS approved animal raising claims in the labeling of meat and poultry products if the animal production information submitted with the label application supports the claims being made and the claim is truthful and not misleading. Recent events concerning labeling claims related to the use of antibiotics in the raising of poultry illustrate the complex issues associated with such claims and led FSIS to review its policies.

Individuals are encouraged to pre-register to attend, and should visit www.fsis.usda.gov or contact Sheila Johnson at (202) 690-6498 or by e-mail at Sheila.Johnson@fsis.usda.gov.

Source: Food Safety and Inspection Service