Food Labeling: Nutrient Content Claims, Definition of Term; Healthy

In response to a petition, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is extending until January 1, 2000, the effective date of the requirement that individual meat and poultry products labeled as ``healthy,'' or any other derivative of the term ``health,'' contain no more than 360 mg sodium and meal-type products contain no more than 480 mg sodium. The petitioner raised issues regarding the technological feasibility of developing consumer-acceptable products with reduced sodium content and lack of scientific data about a link between sodium levels and health and safety factors. FSIS determined that the petitioner's concerns have merit and, as a result, is extending the effective date for the second tier, lower level sodium provisions.