meat-poultry · Food Safety and Inspection Service · Rule · Published 2016-04-13 · Effective 2018-01-01 · 81 FR 21706
Document
Document number
2016-08488
Federal Register citation
81 FR 21706
CFR reference
9 CFR 381
Type
Rule
Action
Final rule.
Category
meat-poultry
Sub-agency
Food Safety and Inspection Service
Publication date
2016-04-13
Effective date
2018-01-01
USDA docket
Docket No. FSIS-2015-0026
Abstract
The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the definition and standard of identity for the "roaster" or "roasting chicken" poultry class to better reflect the characteristics of "roaster" chickens in the market today. "Roasters" or "roasting chickens" are described in terms of the age and ready-to-cook (RTC) carcass weight of the bird. Genetic changes and management techniques have continued to reduce the grow-out period and increased the RTC weight for this poultry class. Therefore, FSIS is amending the "roaster" definition to remove the 8-week minimum age criterion and increase the RTC carcass weight from 5 pounds to 5.5 pounds. FSIS is taking this action in response to a petition submitted by the National Chicken Council.