Just mark it if there is a "cow"? Department of Health: Only for beef chunks

Starting today, the 20th, manufacturers of packaged foods containing beef or edible parts of beef must label their place of origin. The Department of Health said that mandatory labeling of beef products is aimed at "beef chunks" related products, and does not extend to all products with the word "beef" in their names. Therefore, milk, butter or beef flavoring do not need to be labeled.

From the 20th of today, all packaged beef foods manufactured must be labeled with the origin of the beef raw materials. (Photography by Zhang Yawen)

Feng Runlan, deputy director of the Food Group of the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health, said that the mandatory labeling policy is for beef chunks, so if it is clearly a piece of beef, or a product made from beef chunks, such as beef balls, beef jerky, or beef sauce, it must be labeled.

However, some products with the name "cow" or "beef" do not contain real beef chunks or edible parts of cows. Feng Runlan gave the example of beef essence and beef spices, which are just extracts that make the aroma smell like cow; beef broth powder, beef-flavored noodles, etc., the soup is just boiled with large bones and does not contain beef chunks, so there is no need to indicate the origin.

For the same reason, milk, milk powder, butter or tallow do not need to be labeled with their place of origin.

In addition, the law stipulates that only packaged beef foods manufactured from the 20th of today must be labeled with their place of origin. Feng Runlan said that there are still packaged beef foods manufactured before the 20th on the market. Since they comply with the laws at the time, businesses will not be required to recall them for mandatory labeling, but businesses are encouraged to label them voluntarily and provide the public with information for purchasing.