The North American Meat Institute today unveiled an updated version of its popular MyMeatUp app, the first-of-its-kind free mobile app aimed at helping shoppers, particularly millennials — individuals between ages 18 and 35 — become informed, confident purchasers of meat and poultry. The app includes a new “Where does my meat come from?” feature, which allows users to search the U.S. Department of Agriculture establishment database for information about where the product was produced. The new feature, which can be accessed from the home screen, provides an explanation about how to find establishment numbers on meat packages and includes a function that allows users to search plant numbers. Searches can be done using full and partial numbers, or users can choose to view the complete list of establishments. They are then directed to a page with information from USDA about the establishment. The updated app also includes several new images and more than 160 recipes. Furthermore, people interested in learning more about claims made on meat and poultry product labels can continue to use the app’s searchable glossary of common terms. The glossary presents definitions for “natural,” “grass-fed,” “antibiotic-free” and “no hormones added,” among others. In addition, consumers will recognize the app’s industry topics section that addresses antibiotic use in animal agriculture, animal welfare practices, environmental concerns and nutrition facts in succinct list formats.
