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USDA and HHS Propose To Modernize Principles For Food Standards Of Identity
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Matt Baun FSIS (202) 720-9113
Kimberly A. Rawlings FDA (301) 827-6242
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WASHINGTON, May 17, 2005 - U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) Food Safety and
Inspection Service (FSIS) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS') Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) today issued a joint proposed rule to establish a set of general principles for
evaluating whether to revise, eliminate, or create new standards of identity for food. This shared
effort is a step in the agencies' food standards modernization initiative.
Standards of identity define what a given food product is, its name, and the ingredients that must be
used, or may be used in the manufacture of the food. Food standards ensure that consumers get what they
expect when they purchase certain food products. These food standards prescribe minimum amounts of
certain ingredients, such as meat or poultry or milk fat; maximum fat and water contents; methods of
processing, cooking and preparation; permit optional safe and suitable ingredients, and/or identify
expected or characterizing ingredients. Food standards ensure that the basic nature of foods is
maintained to meet consumers' expectations no matter where they buy the product.
"Today's action starts us down the road on a set of general principles that mark a significant step
toward modernizing food standards," said Acting FSIS Administrator Barbara J. Masters. "The rule will
likely encourage the development of food products with better nutritional profiles and stimulate
innovations in food processing technology. The rule, if adopted, will allow both agencies to better
utilize resources to better protect public health."
Recent technological advances in the food industry have led to increases in petitions to modify food standards.
It is intended that the general principles will lead to the updating of existing standards or the creation of
new standards with the goal of allowing industry to continue to produce safe and wholesome products while
stimulating technological innovation.
"These proposed changes to the food standards process will optimize use of new food processing and packaging
technologies in the development of food products geared to the needs of today's consumer," said Dr. Robert
Brackett, Director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. "Moreover, this is an excellent
example of the type of collaboration between the nation's food safety agencies that ensures the American
consumer safer, more diverse foods on the grocery shelves."
FSIS and FDA share the responsibility for ensuring that food labels are truthful and not misleading. FSIS
has authority to regulate the labeling for meat, poultry, and processed egg products while FDA regulates
the labeling of all other foods.
All written comments should be submitted by August 19, 2005 to: FSIS Docket Clerk, Docket # 95-051P, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Room 102, Cotton Annex, 300 12th Street, SW, Washington, DC 20250
or FDA Dockets Management Branch (HFA-305), Docket # 1995N-0294, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room
1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
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