Some Special Markets for Meats

1. Some Special Markets for Meats John E. Rushing, Ph. D. Department of Food Science NCSU

2. Special Markets • Organic • Kosher • Halal • Free Range • Natural

3. USDA -The National Organic Program • Livestock standards apply to • Milk • Meat • Eggs • Other products represented as “Organically Grown”

4. Animals for Slaughter • Must be raised under organic management • From the last third of gestation • No later than the second day of life for poultry • Producers must feed 100% organic feed • May provide allowed vitamin and mineral supplements

5. Dairy Herds • May convert to organic production by • Feed 80% organic feed for 9 months • Follow by 3 months of 100%organically produced feed

6. Management Practices • May not be given hormones to promote growth or antibiotics for any reason • Preventative management practices including use of vaccines may be used to keep animals healthy

7. Treatment of Sick or Injured Animals • Producers are prohibited from withholding treatment from a sick or injured animal • Animals treated with prohibited medication may not be sold as organic

8. Other Welfare Issues • All organically raised animals must have access to the outdoors • Ruminants must have access to pasture • Animals may be temporarily confined only for • Health or safety reasons • The animal’s stage of production, • To protect soil and water quality

9. Organic Crops • Land may have no prohibited substances applied to it for at least three years • The use of genetic engineering, ionizing irradiation and sewage sludge is prohibited • Soil fertility and crop nutrients are managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations and cover crops, supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed synthetic materials

10. Remember • Requirements address the way the product is created • Standards do not address measurable properties of the crop itself • Operations that sell $5000 or more in organic agricultural products must have certification and must produce an organic plan

11. Kosher • "Kosher" may be used only on the labels of meat and poultry products prepared under Rabbinical supervision. • Slaughter is a key issue for meats

12. Halaland Zabiah Halal • Products prepared by federally inspected meat packing plants identified with labels bearing references to "Halal" or "Zabiah Halal" must be handled according to Islamic law and under Islamic authority. • Slaughter is a key issue for meats

13. “Free Range” or “Free Roaming” Poultry • Producers must demonstrate to USDA that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside

14. Natural • A product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed (a process which does not fundamentally alter the raw product) may be labeled natural. • The label must explain the use of the term natural (such as - no added colorings or artificial ingredients; minimally processed.)

15. The term "no hormones administered" • May be approved for use on the label of beef products if sufficient documentation is provided to the Agency by the producer showing no hormones have been used in raising the animals. • Hormones are not allowed in raising hogs or poultry. Therefore, the claim "no hormones added"cannot be used on the labels of pork or poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says "Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones.“

16. No Antibiotics • The terms "no antibiotics added" may be used on labels for meat or poultry products if sufficient documentation is provided by the producer to the Agency demonstrating that the animals were raised without antibiotics.

17. Records and Documentation • Maintain certificates • Organic • Kosher • Zabiah • Records of production and processing • Standing operating procedures • Pesticide, fertilizer and soil amendment log