Poultry industry costs could rise.

Kiplinger Agriculture Letter, The, January, 2001

Poultry industry costs could rise by $127 million under new rules on the moisture content of raw meat products recently finalized by USDA. The final rules will take effect about a year from now...Jan. 9, '02.

Processors must justify presence of water in their products... be ready to demonstrate that the water is an "unavoidable consequence" of a process they used to meet food safety requirements of the Ag Dep't. Industry must list the amount of retained or absorbed water on labels.

USDA will help the industry by developing a national database that will list natural moisture content of raw meat and poultry products.

Consumers will wind up paying more for chicken...about 1[cent]/lb., as industry eventually passes on to them the added cost of compliance.