Perdue Farms successfully petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to modify its guidelines for “pasture-raised” chicken labelling, which should provide consumer clarification between the production system and “free-range.”
“Consumers deserve transparency and clarity when it comes to how their food is raised,” said Ryan Perdue, fourth generation Perdue family member and senior vice president of Perdue Premium Meats and Emerging Brands.
“This new standard, developed in partnership with nearly one thousand small pasture poultry producers, ensures that ‘pasture-raised’ means what it says – raising chickens that spend the majority of their lives on pasture.”
The petition
In March 2023, Perdue requested that the USDA FSIS provide clarification between “free-range” and “pasture-raised” claims on meat and poultry productions.
In its petition, Perdue stated that the advertising claims of the two terms are not synonymous. It cites FSIS standards that state to qualify for a “free-range” claim, the poultry company must describe the housing conditions, and “demonstrate continuous, free access to the outside throughout their normal growing cycle.” However, “free range” chickens are not required to spend any time on actual pasture. The outside area for "free range" is allowed to be a varied environment that isn’t specifically a pasture.
By contrast, Perdue asserts, consumers understand “pasture raised” to mean raised on pasture, and “pasture” to mean that the ground is covered mostly with grass and other plants.
Pasture-raised defined
The labelling guideline updates include new and additional requirements that define “pasture-raised” as animals or birds raised on land with rooted vegetive cover, grasses or plants for most of their lifespan. The guideline is currently in a 60-day comment period, ending November 12, 2024.
“This ruling creates an opportunity at the national level to set pasture raised animals apart from everything else. USDA is finally acknowledging the grass roots difference that pasture raised has meant for small, independent farms for more than 30 years,” said Mike Badger, executive director of the American Pastured Poultry Producers Association.
Perdue Farms production models – showcased at the company’s ninth annual Animal Care Summit -- align with the new guidelines.
