Labeling Rules for Some Meat, Poultry Delayed

The Clinton Administration gave a reprieve to the food industry Friday, announcing that only ground or chopped meat must carry safe-handling labels starting next Friday.

The industry was given an additional six months--until April 15--to put safe-handling labels on packages of all other uncooked meat and poultry products.

The department said, however, that safe-handling information, such as brochures, would have to be available wherever such products are sold, starting next Friday.

That was the original deadline that the department set in August for all uncooked meat products--including beef, lamb, pork and poultry--to carry labels aimed at protecting shoppers and restaurant customers from food poisoning.

The changes in the final version of the rule reflect industry complaints that two months was not enough time for all meat and poultry products--about 15 billion retail packages sold each year--to carry labels. About half of those packages contain ground or chopped products, according to one industry estimate.

The labels tell shoppers and restaurant workers to keep raw meat refrigerated or frozen; thaw it in a refrigerator or microwave; keep it separate from other foods and to wash hands and utensils after coming into contact with the raw product; cook the food thoroughly; and refrigerate leftovers immediately.