Resolution Year 2004
Resolution Number 4:
Consumer Food Safety Labeling of Hot Dogs or Franks
Whereas, surveys of display cases and bulk sales in retail markets throughout the country have indicated the presence of conflicting and contradictory safety and handling information for packaged meat sausage type products, including products commonly referred to as hot dogs, franks, wieners, sausages and wursts; and
Whereas, traditional use and handling instructions have been in place for fully cooked and ready-to-eat products posing no food safety concern, as well as proper heating or cooking information prior to consumption for product not fully cooked; and
Whereas, due to the perishable nature of these products as a potentially hazardous food, label instructions for safe handling of the unopened products will consistently inform the consumer to keep the product refrigerated during storage; and
Whereas, current labeling for only nine (9) of twenty (20) products surveyed indicated that the product was labeled as fully cooked; and
Whereas, instructions for preparing these products for food service ranged from no instructions, to instructions for heating and serving only, and finally to specific temperatures under specific conditions for specific times; and
Whereas, these products which resemble each other (fully cooked or not), being labeled with different preparation instructions, present a confusing and potentially dangerous situation for product mishandling and confusion by the consumer; and
Whereas, contradictory labeling that fails to meet established retail food safety practices will only add to confusion within the food service industry regarding proper handling requirements;
Resolved, that CASA recommend that AFDO support the development of a consistent labeling format and wording for these products by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, that will provide uniform food safety and handling instructions for similar products, cooked or raw, which is consistent with good public health practice and which addresses the food safety concerns associated with such products.
AFDO BOARD RECOMMENDATION:
Although the AFDO Board agrees with CASA on this important issue, the Board recommends in lieu of adoption of this resolution that the issue be made a charge to the Meat & Poultry Committee, working closely with CASA, to resolve these issues.
Membership voted at Business Meeting to accept the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
