Food labels provide important information about the food we purchase and consume. Besides listing general nutrition facts like calories, carbohydrates or vitamins, they can also let us know how the food was grown or what it contains.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is responsible for assuring that foods sold in the United States are safe and properly labeled. However, there are sometimes additional information provided on labels that manufacturers provide voluntarily. Let’s dive into a few label terms that you might not be as familiar with.
The antibiotic-free label means the animal was raised without the use of antibiotics. Farmers can apply for this USDA-approved label by submitting the necessary paperwork and agreeing to participate in future testing.
While many farmers use antibiotics to treat or prevent illness in animals, the FDA requires strict withdrawal times, meaning animals must process the medicine before entering the food supply. In recent years, the FDA has tightened the rules around antibiotic use to slow the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Farmers only use medically important antibiotics when absolutely necessary.
