Food & Agriculture

Safe Food Coalition Pushes for Better Labeling of Raw Chicken that Appears Ready-to-Eat

Members of the Safe Food Coalition ask new rules on labeling not-ready-to-eat (NRTE) chicken products that appear ready-to-eat. The National Chicken Council submitted a citizen’s petition requesting new rules earlier this year. The Safe Food Coalition supports the request for new rules but has offered ways of strengthening the labeling requirements to better protect consumers. Consumers often do not understand when NRTE chicken products—such as stuffed chicken breasts or breaded chicken tenders—contain raw chicken. As a result, the products have been associated with a string of foodborne illnesses in recent years.