Use of Transglutaminase Enzyme and Pork Collagen as Binders in Certain Meat and Poultry Products

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending its meat inspection regulations to permit the use of pork collagen and transglutaminase enzyme (TG enzyme), in limited amounts, as binders in certain standardized meat food products. FSIS also is amending its poultry products inspection regulations to permit the use of TG enzyme, in limited amounts, as a binder in certain standardized poultry products. Additionally, FSIS is amending the meat and poultry inspection regulations to require that, when TG enzyme is used to fabricate or reform cuts of meat or poultry, the resulting product bear labeling to indicate that it has been formed from pieces of whole muscle meat, or that it has been reformed from a single cut. FSIS is proceeding with this direct final rule in response to petitions submitted to the Agency by Ajinomoto, U.S.A., Inc. and AMPC, Corp.