FSIS has no specific labeling requirements for food ingredients of public health concern.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Depends on product

Answer: (B)

Public health protection through labeling is built into FSIS requirements. Meat and poultry products must carry an ingredient statement that lists every ingredient in descending order by weight, so the exact composition is transparent to inspectors and consumers. This includes ingredients that could raise public health concerns, such as allergens, processing aids, or additives with safety implications. In addition, FSIS enforces allergen labeling under FALCPA, making it mandatory to declare major allergens on labels of these products. Because of these rules, the statement that there are no specific labeling requirements for ingredients of public health concern isn’t correct—FSIS does require clear disclosure of such ingredients on the label.