Animal Production Claims

Resources and References Review and Discuss Examples Q&A

Resources & References Your company 3 rd party AMS Other 3

Animal Production Claims Documentation For most claims, the following are typically needed: 1. A detailed written description explaining the controls used for ensuring that the raising claim is valid from birth to harvest or the period of raising being referenced by the claim; 2. A signed and dated document describing how the animals are raised (e.g., vegetarian fed, raised without antibiotics, grass fed), to support that the specific claim made is truthful and not misleading; 3. A written description of the product tracing and segregation mechanism from time of slaughter or further processing through packaging and wholesale or retail distribution; 4. A written description for the identification, control, and segregation of nonconforming animals/product; and 5. If a third-party certifies a claim, a current copy of the certificate. 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 8

Animal Production Claims Transferred Claims If a claim is being carried to further processed product from a purchased product, supply the following: 1. Complete incoming purchased label (with claims) OR Copy of prior label approval 2. Segregation protocol for identifying and handling product Special formatting considerations Precede claims with statement such as [species of meat or kind of poultry] used or [species of meat or kind] raised Third party claims CANNOT be transferred without the final product having its own certification/verification 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 9

Breed Claims Refers to the declaration of a specific breed of livestock or poultry Examples Angus Wagyu (American Kobe) Hereford Berkshire Duroc Muscovy Silkie heritage poultry, pork or beef breeds Additional Documents A signed and dated document that substantiates the breed claim (AMS G Schedule, breed organization certificate) Support for genotype and phenotype Regardless of whether product is purchased If purchased: letter from supplier describing verification process 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 11

Diet Claims Examples Grain/Corn Fed Vegetarian Feed Fed No Animal By-Products Definition Animals only eat the diet claimed for their entire lifetime of the animal (except for milk prior to weaning) Grass Fed Cattle only (100%) fed grass (forage) after being weaned Diet derived solely from forage (further defined) No grain or grain by-products Continuous access to pasture during the growing season until slaughter 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 14

Raised without Antibiotics - Meat Examples Definition No Antibiotics Added No Antibiotics Administered No Added Antibiotics Ever Raised Without Sub-therapeutic Antibiotics Source animals cannot have been given antibiotics (including ionophores) in their feed, water or by injections 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 16

Raised without Antibiotics - Poultry Examples Definition No Hormones Administered No Steroids Administered Raised Without Growth Promotants (Stimulants) Source animals cannot have been given antibiotics (including ionophores) in their feed, water or by injections Signed and dated company letter must answer: 1. Are antibiotics used pre-hatch in any way with respect to the eggs hatched for the poultry that will bear the claim? If so, please describe their use? 2. Do you inject any vaccines or antibiotics in ovo? If so, please state whether any of the vaccines includes an antibiotic. If any of them does, please state what antibiotics are used, what the antibiotics are used for, and in what amount they are used. 3. What is the withdrawal time for the antibiotics? 4. Have you verified that the poultry that you use to produce your products was not derived from eggs or poultry that were injected or otherwise treated in any way with antibiotics? If so, how have you verified these conclusions? 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 17

Animal Welfare/Environmental Stewardship Describe how animals are raised based on the care they receive by the producer or how the producer maintains the land and replenishes the environment Examples Unique requirements Humanely Handled/Raised Sustainably Farmed/Raised Environmentally Raised Undefined by FSIS; manufacturer must take ownership Definition must be provided on the label to explain meaning of claim to consumers Example: "TMB Ranch Defines Raised with Care as [meaning of the claim on the label] 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 19

Living/Raising/Raising Conditions Examples Unique requirements Cage or Crate Free Free Range Not Confined Pasture Raised/Fed/Grown Free Roaming Describes environment animals were raised in during their lifespan Acceptable when animal has continuous free access to the outdoors for at least 120 days a year Additional terminology needed on label to define meaning Example: Chicken used never confined to a cage 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 21

Raised without Hormones/Steroids Examples Beef/Sheep Pork/Poultry/Veal/Exotic No Hormones Administered No Steroids Administered Raised Without Growth Promotants (Stimulants) Hormones approved for use in these species Claim must be tied to the statement Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones (or steroids) in [kind] 2015 Prime Label Consultants, Inc. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reproduced by any means without expressed permission of PLC 24

Other claims Organic Halal Kosher Certified or NOT 26

Animal Production Claims Q&A 29