US cattle leaders see meat labeling law in '06

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Packages of fresh meat and poultry may soon be required to have labels detailing such things as protein, fat, and carbohydrates much like packaged foods do now, two beef industry leaders told the Reuters Food Summit in Chicago on Wednesday.

"We anticipate at some point that there will be a federal law for nutrition labeling at retail," Mark Thomas, National Cattlemen's Beef Association vice president of global marketing, told the Reuters Food Summit.

The U.S. Agriculture Department's Food Safety and Inspection Service for several years has been working on a plan to require nutritional labeling on fresh meat and NCBA officials said they expect a final rule soon.

"Probably before the end of the year," said Jay Truitt, NCBA's vice president for governmental affairs.

The U.S. meat industry has been waiting for, and supportive of, such a law for about a year because it should help consumers understand the nutritional values of meat.

Currently such labeling of fresh meat is voluntary.

"Our understanding at this point that ground meat will be required to have the nutrition panel on the package," said Thomas.

For other cuts of meat, such as steaks and roasts, the retailer may the have the choice putting the nutrition panel on packages or displaying it at the point of sale, said Thomas.

"We encourage retailers now to put additional information on that panel because iron, zinc, B vitamins, aren't required by law, but beef is a great source of those nutrients," said Thomas.