Source: Chris Scott, MEATINGPLACE, 3/6/17

USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) has extended the deadline for comments on its proposed rules covering the processing of donated foods through the end of the day today, the agency announced.

The FNS rule is designed to clarify requirements for the processing of donated foods to incorporate processing options tested in demonstration projects, to ensure accountability for donated foods delivered for processing and to increase program efficiency.

Multi-state processors would be required to enter into National Processing Agreements to deliver end products and allow processors to substitute commercially purchased beef and pork of U.S. origin of equal or better quality for donated beef or pork. The rule also would increase oversight of inventories of donated foods at the processor level, the agency said in the Federal Register.

Comments can be sent via email to ProcessingRuleComments@fsn.usda.gov using the document number 0584-AE38 in the subject line.

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