USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service has updated its list of ingredients approved for use in meat, poultry and egg product to include sodium benzoate, sodium propionate and benzoic acid.
All three ingredients were approved for use as antimicrobials as of May 6. Ready-to-eat meat and poultry manufacturers will be able to use liquid sodium propionate products without an in-plant waiver, for example. The Food and Drug Administration continues to approve new uses of these substances for safety and suitability in meat and poultry products, according to the FSIS directive.
