Some Special Markets for Meats

John E. Rushing, Ph. D.Department of Food Science

NCSU

Special Markets Organic Kosher Halal Free Range Natural

USDA -The National Organic Program Livestock standards apply to

Milk Meat Eggs Other products represented as

“Organically Grown”

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

Dairy Herds May convert to organic production

by Feed 80% organic feed for 9 months Follow by 3 months of

100%organically produced feed

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

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

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

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

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

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

Halal and 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

“Free Range” or “Free Roaming” Poultry Producers must demonstrate to

USDA that the poultry has been allowed access to the outside

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.)

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.“

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.

Records and Documentation Maintain certificates

• Organic• Kosher• Zabiah

Records of production and processing

Standing operating procedures Pesticide, fertilizer and soil

amendment log