
Petition for Consistent Policy on the Use and Labeling of Heart Meat in Certain Meat Products
Petition Summary
The petition requests that FSIS amend its regulations and other policy documents to establish a consistent policy on the use and labeling of heart meat in certain meat products. As noted in the petition, heart meat is included in the definition of "meat" in 9 CFR 301.2, and FSIS does not limit the use of beef heart meat in chopped beef, ground beef, or hamburger. The petition states that while beefheart meat may be used in unlimited quantities in ground beef and declared on the label as "beef," other FSIS standards, such as the corned beef standard in 9 CFR 319 .100, limit the use of heart meat or require special labeling for beef heart meat. The petition also requests that FSIS clarify its policies related to the use of tongue meat and esophagus in standardized products. The petition asserts that clarification on the use and labeling of meat from the heart, tongue, and esophagus is needed for industry to comply with FSIS's generic labeling regulations.