
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, September 25, 1993                   TAG: 9309250062
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

SUIT CHALLENGES LABEL DATE FOR MEAT

Claiming the Agriculture Department acted with undue haste, food industry groups are suing to block the agency from requiring safe-handling labels on uncooked meat and poultry products by Oct. 15.

The department set the deadline last month for adding labels that give instructions on safe cooking, handling, refrigerating and thawing meat products that are not fully cooked when purchased. The labels also must warn about possible bacterial contamination if the product is mishandled or cooked improperly.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Austin, Texas, by the National-American Wholesale Grocers' Association, the National Grocers Association and the Texas Food Industry Association.

The lawsuit contends the Agriculture Department violated laws requiring timely notice of new regulations, depriving affected groups of a chance to comment on a requirement that will have a serious economic impact.

USDA spokesman Steve Kinsella said he could not comment on the lawsuit because officials had not seen it. The department has defended the urgent need for the regulations, however.

by CNB