The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday that it is seeking public comments on a proposed labeling rule to help consumers make informed decisions when purchasing meat and poultry products. 

The prosed rule would require nutritional labeling on major cuts and single-ingredient, raw meat and poultry products, which currently do not have to carry a nutrition facts type label.

In 2001, USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) published a proposed rule in the Federal Register, titled “Nutrition Labeling of Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products and Single-Ingredient Products,” and heard public comments.

The USDA is now giving the public another chance to give input on the rule. “Because of the length of time since the publication of the proposed rule, FSIS is providing the public an opportunity to comment on this supplemental proposed rule,” said the agency in a statement. “FSIS also welcomes comments on relevant issues for which there is new evidence since the proposed rule was issued.”

Comments on the proposed rule are due by February 16, 2010.

omments can be sent to Docket Clerk, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service, 5601 Sunnyside Ave, Room 2-2127, Beltsville, Md. 20705; or through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www.regulations.gov . Go to http://www.regulations.gov and in the “Search for Open Regulations” box, select “Food Safety and Inspection Service” from the agency drop-down menu and then click on “Submit.” In the Docket ID column, select Docket Number FSIS-2005-0018 to submit or view public comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.

For further information contact Sally Jones, Senior Technical Advisor, Labeling and Program Delivery Division, Office of Policy and Program Development, USDA, FSIS, 5601 Sunnyside Avenue, Block A, 2nd Wing, 2nd Floor Room 2-2124, Beltsville, MD 20705, or by phone at (301) 504-0878.