The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday that it is examining the possibility of creating stricter regulations for meats labeled as “humanely raised” or “antibiotic-free” at grocery stores. These claims have come under criticism from some who argue that they are frequently exaggerated to justify higher prices. While consumers often pay more for these products due to their perceived health benefits and environmental friendliness, animal welfare and science groups have raised doubts about the lax USDA rules that allow certain claims to be made without sufficient verification. A 2021 report from the Animal Welfare Institute found that nearly half of the animal-raising claims on meat products approved by the USDA lacked proper documentation to back up their claims. Senators Richard Blumenthal, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Warren, and Sheldon Whitehouse wrote a letter to Sandra Eskin, the USDA’s deputy undersecretary for food safety, stating that inaccurate labels deprive consumers of the ability to purchase according to their values and urging the USDA to ensure that consumers have the information they need. The USDA will revise guidelines to recommend that companies provide stronger documentation and encourage them to use third-party certification for verification. The USDA will also begin a sampling project to evaluate antibiotic residues in cattle intended for the “raised without antibiotics” market. The results of this project will help the agency decide whether to require laboratory testing results or start a new verification sampling program. The USDA will begin testing kidneys and livers at slaughter facilities for antibiotic evidence later this year.
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