WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Agriculture released new guidance for food companies making animal raising and climate claims about their food. The Environmental Working Group has petitioned the USDA to prohibit misleading climate claims on beef, including “climate friendly” claims on Tyson’s Brazen Beef.
The following is a statement from Scott Faber, EWG’s senior vice president for government affairs:
Today’s announcement by the USDA is a shot across the bow to the food companies making climate claims on food.
Lost amid all the government jargon is a simple message to food companies: Back it up. If food companies are going to tell consumers that certain food items are better for the climate, companies had better be able to show us the receipts.
Today the USDA has put the burden squarely on food companies to demonstrate that their claims like ‘climate friendly’ pass the smell test.