FSIS updates guidance for retained water in meat and poultry products

The US Department of Agriculture's FSIS has updated its guidance for calculating retained water in meat and poultry products. The “Revised Guideline for Controlling Retained Water in Raw Meat and Poultry” will publish in the Federal Register on April 1, 2024.

The guideline provides formulas and examples for calculating retained water in products and recommendations to ensure the retained water protocol provides accurate data for labeling determinations. FSIS encourages meat and poultry establishments to review the guidance and revise protocols accordingly, if necessary. Establishments will have until September 30, 2024, to submit their revised protocols to the Risk Management and Innovations Staff via askFSIS for review. Establishments will have until April 1, 2025, to make any necessary label changes.