Representatives from the food industry, government agencies and consumer groups testified in a hearing on Nov. 13, 2007 before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations regarding the use of carbon monoxide in meat packaging.
This hearing, titled “Diminished Capacity: Can the FDA Assure the Safety and Security of The Nation’s Food Supply?—Part IV—Deception in Labeling,” is the most recent hearing related to H.R. 3115: Carbon Monoxide Treated Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Safe Handling, Labeling, and Consumer Protection Act. Introduced in July 2007 by Rep. Bart Stupak [D-MI], the legislation seeks to amend the FD&C Act to provide restrictions on the use of carbon monoxide (CO) in meat, poultry and seafood.
Gregory Page, CEO, Cargill Inc., Wayzata, MN, offered testimony in defense of the use of CO in meat packaging—which was affirmed GRAS by FDA, and approved for use by USDA in 2004—and the company’s willingness to amend product labeling. “We recently had the opportunity to host investigators from the House Committee on Energy and Commerce at one of our case ready plants,” he said. “We learned clearly that the most important issue concerning committee members was the potential that a consumer may not fully understand that color is not the only indicator of freshness. For this reason, we will add wording to our labeling, pending USDA approval, to include the statement, ‘Color is not an indicator of freshness. Please refer to use or freeze by dates.’ We believe this effectively addresses the concerns of the Committee in protecting public health, while not undermining the adoption of the safety and convenience offered through case ready packaging.”
In addition, Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman, president and CEO, Hormel Foods Corporation, Austin, MN, said he does not consider the red color to be deceptive, but noted that “in an effort to address the concerns expressed by Subcommittee staff and consumer groups, we have offered to add additional language to our label to address the color issue and expressly inform consumers that ‘Color is not an accurate indicator of freshness. Refer to use or freeze-by date.’ We also offered to add language reminding consumers of the right temperature setting for home refrigeration—a key point of concern that has been expressed by Subcommittee staff.”
Since H.R. 3115 was introduced, Safeway, Pleasonton, CA, Giant Food, Inc., Landover, MD, and Tyson Foods, Inc., Springdale, AK, have stopped selling meat treated with CO.
