Poultry Products Produced by Mechanical Separation and Products In Which Such Poultry Products Are Used

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is amending the Federal poultry products inspection regulations to prescribe: a definition and standard of identity and composition for the poultry product that results from the mechanical separation and removal of most of the bone from skeletal muscle and other tissues of poultry carcasses and parts of carcasses (``Mechanically Separated (Kind of Poultry)''-- hereafter referred to generically as ``Mechanically Separated Poultry'' (``MSP'')), including requirements for bone solids content (measured as calcium content) and bone particle size; certain limitations for the use of MSP; and labeling requirements for MSP, and for poultry products and meat food products containing MSP as an ingredient. This action establishes the requirement that products containing MSP as an ingredient disclose that fact by identifying it in the ingredients declaration as, in the case of MSP derived from chicken carcasses, ``mechanically separated chicken,'' rather than ``chicken.'' This action will help ensure that meat and poultry products distributed to consumers are not labeled in a false or misleading manner and are not misbranded.