Meat, Poultry Nutrition Labels Coming

May 30, 2000

President Clinton says nutrition labels for packaged meat and poultry will be proposed this summer. He called such labeling "just plain common sense." Nutrition labeling for meat now is voluntary.

"Shoppers value the fact that when they pick up a box of cereal or frozen meal they can check the nutrition labels and see how many calories or grams of saturated fat these foods contain," Clinton said in his Saturday radio address to the nation.

"That’s the same kind of information that ought to be put on every package of ground beef. Currently fewer than 60% of retailers do so, because nutrition labeling for meat is voluntary. It’s time we made it mandatory," he added.

USDA’s rule will propose that retailers be required to provide the nutrition information through product labels or at the point of purchase by posting signs or making information readily available in brochures or leaflets.

The required information would include fat, calories and cholesterol content.