Keeping track of calories, fat and additives is about to become a bit easier for those who care about lowering health risks and maintaining a healthy body fat percentage! The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it will require standard Nutrition Fact labels be placed on most meat packages and nutritional information will have to be available at the butcher counter if packages are not labeled. Forty of the most common cuts of beef, pork, poultry and lamb will be identified as part of this new regulation. The rule goes into effect Jan. 1, 2012.
Packaged foods have come with nutritional information for years now but the fat content and calories of the meats we purchase were sort of a guessing game. The good news is that consumers purchasing meats and poultry will now be educated as to which the healthiest choices are. Now, when choosing between a rib eye steak or a fillet mignon, the glaring truth will be unavoidable - the rib eye is sort of a heart attack on a plate, but a small fillet just might be okay. The advantages of poultry over red meat will be right in our faces when we shop. There will be that "moment of truth" when we throw the package in our shopping cart.
Some wondered what the reaction would be from the American Meat Institute. Will they fight it? Surprisingly, they embraced the new law and a spokesman and said the institute feels the consumer will be pleasantly surprised at the lean options available at the butcher.
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