Wisconsin Farmers Have Mixed Feelings About Increased Oversight Around Certain Claims

Monday, July 10th, 2023 -- 9:00 AM

(By Hope Kirwan, Wisconsin Public Radio) Wisconsin farmers raising animals for specialty meat have mixed feelings about increased oversight by federal regulators around claims like "grass-fed" and "free-range."

According to Hope Kirwan with Wisconsin Public Radio, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in June that the agency is working to require stronger substantiation for animal-raising claims.

Producers using these labels currently have to receive approval from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, or FSIS, by providing written documents outlining how they care for their animals.

But the agency said in a press release they've received several comments and letters asking FSIS to reevaluate how these labels are substantiated.  The biggest claim at issue is the promise of no antibiotics used in cattle.

Studies have found that some cows sold under this claim test positive for antibiotics. FSIS will be conducting a sampling project to see how often antibiotic residues are present and if the agency should require producers to submit lab tests to verify the "no antibiotics" claim.

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