meat page 2


The Wholesome Meat Act

  • Was the amendment to the Meat Inspection Act of 1906

  • Was passed in 1967

  • Requires state inspection of processing facilities to equal or exceed federal inspection standards

  • Requires a federal, USDA, or state inspection mark 

- Mark can be found on the can, package and/or primal cuts of meat

  • Assures meat is from healthy animals, harvested and processed under sanitary conditions


Meat Moment The federal or state inspection mark indicates wholesomeness and safety, not quality.


URMIS

  • Was implemented by the meats industry in 1973

  • Established a single, specific name for each basic retail cut

  • Increased the amount of information found on the label of a meat package

  • Is a voluntary program


The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act

  • Amended the Humane Slaughter Act

  • Was passed in 1978

  • Clearly outlines handling, stunning and harvesting procedures

  • Lists the approved stunning methods

    • captive bolt stunner

    • electric shock

    • carbon dioxide gas

  • Allows exceptions for ritual slaughtering practices

  • Halal: method of slaughter, meat processing and handling according to Islamic dietary laws in accordance with the Quran

  • Kosher: method of slaughter, meat processing and handling according to the Jewish dietary laws in accordance with the Torah

Meat MomentHalal is Arabic for “permitted” or “lawful.” Kosher is Hebrew for “properly prepared.”


The Nutritional Labeling & Education Act

  • Was passed in 1990

  • Required nutritional information labels on all food products except single ingredient foods, such as fresh meat

  • nutritional labels were voluntary until 1990