New Questions/Answers:
Naming Non-Traditional Pizza-Like Products
In the absence of a pizza with meat standard, the prevailing regulations
on naming meat and poultry products apply. According to the regulations
(9 CFR 317.2(c)(1) and 381.117(a)), when a product's name is not
guided by a standard of identity, products are named using a recognized
common or usual name, if one exists, or a descriptive naming approach.
After further consideration, the Agency has determined that a modification
to the naming convention for certain non-traditional pizza-like
products is needed. This modification relates to the continued use
of the "common or usual" naming conventions of traditional pizza
products. A question has also been added to clarify naming conventions
with respect to the use of modified versions of standardized cheese
products.
1. Q. What naming approach is acceptable for non-traditional
pizza-like products that consist of the four traditional components
(i.e., bread-base component used as a crust, shell, or other similar
way; tomato sauce; cheese; and meat/poultry component) and only
differ in their "form" from a traditional pizza, e.g., rolled, filled,
or stuffed in a crust or breading, and fried or baked?
A. Such products could be named with the common
or usual "traditional" pizza name; however, the basic nature or
characteristics would also need to be identified, e.g., how the
"form" of the product differs from the traditional pizza product.
Examples would be "pepperoni pizza in rolled dough and fried," "sausage
pizza enclosed in crust," "Combination pepperoni and sausage pizza
folded and sealed," and "chicken pizza wrapped in a dough pocket."
The term "sandwich" is not sufficiently descriptive for the form
of the product because an enrobed or formed pizza is not defined
as a traditional sandwich.
2. Q. Do imitation/substitute cheese and modified
versions of standardized cheese (per 21 CFR 130.10) need to be included
in the product name on the labeling of traditional pizzas and non-traditional
pizza-like products that consist of the four traditional components
(i.e., bread-base component, tomato sauce, cheese, and meat/poultry
component) and only differ in their "form" from a traditional pizza?
A. All of the traditional components of a traditional
pizza that are present at 2 percent or more of the formulation do
not need to appear in the common or usual product name. However,
when "cheese" is included in the product name, or when a descriptive
name is used that includes all the components that are present at
2 percent or more of the formulation, the amount of real cheese
must be equal to or greater than that of the imitation, substitute,
or modified versions of standardized cheese in the product or the
imitation/substitute/modified cheese must be included in the product
name. For example, a product identified as a "Bacon, Cheddar Cheese,
Hickory Flavored Sauce, and Sourdough Pizza," that contains 15 percent
Cheddar and Reduced Fat Mozzarella Cheese would be expected to contain
Cheddar at greater that 7.5 percent of the product formulation.
Otherwise, the reduced fat cheese would need to be declared as part
of the product name.
3. Q. Can a traditional pizza contain only
a modified version of the standardized cheese for the required cheese
component, or will this make the pizza a "non-traditional" pizza-like
product requiring a descriptive name?
A. Yes, a traditional pizza can contain only a
modified cheese. Modified versions of standardized cheeses are actually
covered by a "general standard of identity" in 21 CFR 130.10. In
order for such products to contain novel ingredients, they must
be identified with the standardized name in addition to a nutrient
content claim. Thus, a pizza with a modified cheese would be regarded
as a traditional pizza. However, the product name or other label
features (e.g., starbursts) could not simply state the term "cheese"
because of the nature of the modified standardized cheese and its
required special labeling. Any statements regarding cheese would
need to use the correct name of the component consistent with 21
CFR 130.10, e.g., "fat free mozzarella cheese" and "reduced fat
cheddar cheese."
Revised Question/Answer to Address Modified Versions
of Standardized Cheese:
Section V. Naming of "Traditional" and Non-Traditional,
Descriptively Labeled Pizza-Like Products
8. Q. When should real cheese and imitation/substitute
and modified versions of standardized cheese be declared on non-traditional,
pizza-like products?
A. The final rule stated that ingredients above
two percent are characterizing ingredients. Consistent with the
final rule, non-standardized products, including non-traditional
pizza-like products, that highlight "cheese" or an imitation/substitute/modified
cheese in the product name or on the principal display panel (PDP)
must contain more than two percent real cheese for that cheese ingredient
to be a characterizing ingredient. For descriptively named pizza
products, cheese and imitation/substitute/modified versions of standardized
cheese used at characterizing levels, i.e., above two percent, would
be reflected as part of the product name. (Guidance on the common
or usual names of cheese products is found in FDA standards of identity
regulations (21 CFR § 130.10 and Part 133).)
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