Drained-Weight Labeling for Meat and Poultry: An Economic Analysis of a Regulatory Proposal

In December 1977, the Department of Agriculture proposed controversial new drained-weight labeling regulations for meat and poultry products. Consumer groups for the proposal and producer groups against it made strongly worded, but largely unsupported statements about its impact. This paper attempts to clarify the basic issues. It examines the impact of drained-weight labeling on product price and the effect on producers and consumers, assuming both a static and a dynamic setting.