Naturally-raised standard established

In January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a voluntary standard for naturally-raised livestock and meat marketing claims. USDA previously established voluntary standards for organic and grass-fed.

The naturally-raised marketing claim standard states that livestock used for the production of meat and meat products have been raised entirely without growth promotants, antibiotics (except for ionophores used as coccidiostats for parasite control), and have never been fed animal by-products.

In establishing the naturally-raised marketing claim, USDA analyzed over 44,000 comments received from producers, processors, consumers, and other interested parties.

The naturally raised marketing claim standard was published in the January 21, 2009, Federal Register.