Pork producers disappointed with new gene editing rules

In comments submitted to FDA in response to new guidance, the National Pork Producers Council expressed disappointment with the agency’s updated direction. While the group supports gene editing as a tool, it says that the new guidance does not offer “any significant improvement to the burdensome regulatory process historically imposed on developers” of gene edited animals.

FDA currently treats edited genes as a drug under the Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act, requiring an enormously burdensome and expensive regulatory review process. NPPC has long advocated for oversight of gene editing for food animals to be transferred to USDA, which it believes has the right experience and necessary authority.

In the comment letter, NPPC CEO Bryan Humphreys stated, “Gene editing offers a tremendous opportunity for the U.S. pork industry, but continued regulation under FDA and the [Food, Drug and Cosmetic] Act create extreme barriers to utilization by industry and is not in keeping with federal policy and precedence — and indeed global regulatory trends — concerning the use of biotechnology in agriculture.”

USDA tightens rules for meat and poultry welfare and environmental labels
This week, USDA issued new guidelines to ensure claims on meat and poultry labels are accurate. The guidelines cover both animal-raising claims like “Raised Without Antibiotics,” “Grass-Fed” and “Free-Range,” as well as environment-related claims like “Raised using Regenerative Agriculture Practices” and “Climate-Friendly.” These claims are voluntary marketing claims and are not mandated by law but have come to cause confusion due to their loose requirements.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “USDA continues to deliver on its commitment to fairness and choice for both farmers and consumers, and that means supporting transparency and high-quality standards. These updates will help to level the playing field for businesses who are truthfully using these claims and ensure people can trust the labels when they purchase meat and poultry products.”

USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service currently reviews documentation to support welfare and environmental claims. Under the new guidelines, FSIS “strongly encourages” companies to use independent third-party organizations to check their claims to make sure that they are true and not misleading. It also recommends that companies using “negative” antibiotic claims such as “No Antibiotics Ever” conduct routine sampling and testing to support the labels.

FSIS and the Agricultural Research Service also pledged to share more detailed results from a recent study on antibiotic residues. The initial findings showed that stricter checks are needed to make sure labels are truthful. FSIS may also take additional action, including random sampling and rulemaking, to further ensure that labels on meat and poultry products are reliable and trustworthy.

Website launched to educate consumers about food processing
The Consumer Brands Association has launched a new website, FoodProcessingFacts.org, aimed at providing accurate, science-based information about food processing and safety. The site intends to dispel what the organization sees as common myths and misconceptions and offer a reliable resource for consumers to learn about the benefits of food processing. The website focuses on processing’s role in ensuring that America's food supply is nutritious, affordable and safe.

According to Consumer Brands, the website addresses key questions about the necessity of food processing and how it contributes to various aspects of food security, safety and accessibility. Visitors can find a comprehensive resource library with articles, research papers and expert opinions, helping to clarify the conversation around "ultra-processed" foods and their impact on health.

Sarah Gallo, senior vice president of product policy and head of federal affairs at Consumer Brands, said, “Our goal in creating Food Processing Facts is to shift the conversation past the click-bait headlines and create a trusted hub for information rooted in science, which paves the way toward a more constructive dialogue about food and nutrition.”

The launch is part of a broader initiative by the industry to promote transparency and provide consumers with critical information. It joins other tools like Facts up Front, which places key nutrition information on the front of packages, and SmartLabel, which allows consumers to access detailed ingredient information via a QR code scan. By providing these resources, Consumer Brands hopes to empower consumers to make informed decisions about the products they buy and use.