Mechanically Separated Meat Of Pork
Permitted in many processed meat products with strict labeling and processing rules. Concerns are mainly about reduced nutritional quality versus whole muscle meat and historical TSE/BSE rules (which apply more to ruminants but inform regulation).
What it is
A paste-like meat product produced by forcing pork carcasses or bones under high pressure through a sieve to separate residual meat from bone.
Inexpensive meat ingredient providing protein and texture in processed meat products.
Why it's flagged
- highly processed
- may contain bone particles
What regulators actually say
"Mechanically separated (Species) is any finely comminuted product resulting from the mechanical separation and removal of most of the bone from attached skeletal muscle of livestock carcasses."
Regulatory status
United States — FDA
Regulated by USDA-FSIS rather than FDA; mechanically separated pork must meet USDA standards under 9 CFR 319.5.
European Union — EFSA
EU permits MSM but with strict definitions and labeling under Regulation (EC) No 853/2004; 'mechanically separated meat' must be declared on labels.
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