Poultry Producers Squawk Over Definition of Natural

WASHINGTONWhen it comes to the term natural" not everyone sees eye to eye on the definition, which is why the federal government is considering changing food labeling guidelines. One such segment squawking over the definition of natural is the poultry industry.

According to an Associated Press article, nations poultry producers are in disagreement about whether chickens injected with salt, water and other ingredientsa practice known as plumpingcan be labeled as natural. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) chicken may be labeled as natural as long as it does not contain artificial flavors or preservatives. However, the agency agreed to reexamine its policy after some producers, politicians and health advocates noted that about 30% of chickens sold in the United States are injected with additives that could represent up to 15% of the meats weightdoubling or tripling the sodium content.

Consumers also are taking note of sodium content and natural label claims. In June, results of a Foster Farms survey of more than 1,000 West Coast consumers revealed the majority of consumers are highly aware of sodium intake and are increasingly skeptical of natural" and healthy" labels. Consumers overwhelmingly prefer fresh, minimally processed foods for a healthy diet. The survey also found that consumers are now highly aware of added sodium in supposedly healthy foods like plumped" chicken.

Sodium and sodium reduction is a subject garnering much attention from healthcare providers and lawmakers who want to set formal standards for sodium use in foods. In fact, many food producers already have initiated sodium-reduction programs, and the federal government is pondering new labeling guidelines .