The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is pleased to comment on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) proposal on performance standards for the production of processed meat and poultry products. 66 Fed. Reg. 12589 (Feb. 27, 2001). The proposal primarily addresses the levels of pathogen reduction and limits on pathogen growth that official meat and poultry establishments must achieve. However, the Department also considered proposing a requirement that processors of ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products incorporate “use by” date labeling on their products. We agree with the Department’s determination that it would be premature to propose “use by” date labeling at this time. The purpose of these comments is to respond to the Department’s request for information associated with this issue.

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