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15.12.2017 - Foods

Fresh poultry steaks - "meat preparations" or "meat products"

The following are the definitions in advance according to Annex I No. 1.15 "Meat Preparations" and No. 7.1 "Meat Products" of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004:

"Meat preparations" refer to fresh meat, including minced meat. The addition of seasonings and additives, as well as processing methods, is permitted, provided that the inner muscle fiber structure of the meat is not altered and the characteristics of fresh meat are preserved.

"Meat products" are processed products that are obtained in such a way that, when a cut is made through the core, the cut surface is altered so that the characteristics of fresh meat are no longer present.

At its 79th meeting, the ALTS dealt with the question of whether the products described below are meat preparations or meat products:

Raw, cured, and marinated turkey and chicken steaks are made from frozen poultry meat and sold as prepackaged foods in a fresh state.

For meat preparations made from poultry meat, the use of nitrite curing salt is not permitted. Furthermore, poultry meat preparations that are offered fresh must not be made from frozen meat.

According to the decision of the ALTS, these are meat preparations in the sense of Annex I No. 1.15 of Regulation (EC) No. 853/2004, as the mere addition of nitrite to raw poultry meat is not sufficient to alter the inner muscle fiber structure of the meat to such an extent and completely eliminate the characteristics of fresh meat.

The marketability of these products due to the unauthorized addition of nitrite curing salt and production from originally frozen meat should therefore be examined.

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Source: Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety: www.bvl.bund.de