Content Labeling: Makers of hot dogs, bologna...

Content Labeling: Makers of hot dogs, bologna and other processed foods will soon be required to tell consumers whether the poultry meat in their products was boned by a machine, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said. Labels must say “mechanically separated chicken” or “mechanically separated turkey.” The intention is to alert consumers to the possibility of bone content in processed poultry. In mechanical boning, high-pressure machinery crushes meat and bone, then forces the product through a sieve to remove the larger bone fragments. Under the rule, which is to take effect next year, bone content will be limited to 1% in mechanically separated poultry, and its use in baby foods will be largely prohibited, said Michael Taylor, acting USDA undersecretary for food safety.