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Why do ingredient labels specify if meat has been "mechanically separated"?

A friend of mine was eating this http://www.beefstickreviews.com/2010/05/tijuana-mama-pickled-sausage.html the other day. The ingredients (mechanically Separated Chicken, pork, pork hearts, water, beef, spices, soy protein concentrate, salt, corn syrup, flavorings, paprika, sodium erythorbate, sodium nitrate, red 40) sound vile enough already. What's the significance of "mechanically separated"? Are they required to to label it as such, and if so, why?

Rickler asked in Meat 8 months ago | Report

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  • 211448_559967205_6715099_n_small
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    Meat & poultry labeling terminology is regulated by FSIS. Because mechanically separated meat & poultry changes the product, it has it's own "standard of identity" which must be used on the label. A "standard of identity" is established for all meat products and must be on the labels. Mechanically separated meat is paste-like, therefore having its own identity.

    AmyS answered in Meat 8 months ago | Report
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  • Images_small
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    For me, seeing mechicanically seperated meat (aka meat soft serve) in the ingredients sereves as a red flag that says DON"T EAT ME...

    bikechef answered in Meat 8 months ago | Report
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  • 2008_0522stuff0016_small
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    It's a warning for the potential for bone fragments because of how it's made. Just like the warning on pitted prunes and apricots and such to watch out for pit fragments.

    Here's the USDA label regs: http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/meat_&_poultry_labeling_terms/index.asp#12

    This is also how McNugget-type products are born.

    Griffin answered in Meat 8 months ago | Report
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  • Avatar_carrieoliver_small
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    That's a pretty transparent label if you ask me, it actually tells you some specific ingredients (pork, pork hearts vs. just "pork"). To add to what Amy said, in layman's terms, when chicken is "mechanically separated" it means that a machine is used to basically pick the bones clean of all meat. The meat that is separated ends up as a paste-like product that can then be formed into things like hot-dogs or chicken nuggets.

    Carrie Oliver answered in Meat 8 months ago | Report
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