In the nature of substitute.

SA 4113. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Johnson (for himself and Mr. Wyden))
proposed an amendment to the bill S. 2322, to amend the Federal Food,
Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define the term natural cheese; as follows:

Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Codifying Useful Regulatory
Definitions Act'' or the ``CURD Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Congress finds as follows:
(1) There is a need to define the term ``natural cheese''
in order to maintain transparency and consistency for
consumers so that they may differentiate ``natural cheese''
from ``process cheese''.
(2) The term ``natural cheese'' has been used within the
cheese making industry for more than 50 years and is well-
established.

SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF NATURAL CHEESE.

(a) Definition.--Section 201 of the Federal Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(ss)(1) The term `natural cheese' means cheese that is a
ripened or unripened soft, semi-soft, or hard product, which
may be coated, that is produced--
``(A) by--
``(i) coagulating wholly or partly the protein of milk,
skimmed milk, partly skimmed milk, cream, whey cream, or
buttermilk, or any combination of such ingredients, through
the action of rennet or other suitable coagulating agents,
and by partially draining the whey resulting from the
coagulation, while respecting the principle that cheese-
making results in a concentration of milk protein (in
particular, the casein portion), and that consequently, the
protein content of the cheese will be distinctly higher than
the protein level of the blend of the above milk materials
from which the cheese was made; or
``(ii) processing techniques involving coagulation of the
protein of milk or products obtained from milk to produce an
end-product with similar physical, chemical, and organoleptic
characteristics as the product described in subclause (i);
and
``(iii) including the addition of safe and suitable non-
milk derived ingredients of the type permitted in the
standards of identity described in clause (B) as natural
cheese; or
``(B) in accordance with standards of identity under part
133 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any
successor regulations), other than the standards described in
subparagraph (2) or any future standards adopted by the
Secretary in accordance with subparagraph (2)(I).
``(2) Such term does not include--
``(A) pasteurized process cheeses as defined in section
133.169, 133.170, or 133.171 of title 21, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any successor regulations);
``(B) pasteurized process cheese foods as defined in
section 133.173 or 133.174 of title 21, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any successor regulations);
``(C) pasteurized cheese spreads as defined in section
133.175, 133.176, or 133.178 of title 21, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any successor regulations);
``(D) pasteurized process cheese spreads as defined in
section 133.179 or 133.180 of title 21, Code of Federal
Regulations (or any successor regulations);
``(E) pasteurized blended cheeses as defined in section
133.167 or 133.168 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations
(or any successor regulations);
``(F) any products comparable to any product described in
any of clauses (A) through (E); or
``(G) cold pack cheeses as defined in section 133.123,
133.124, or 133.125 title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or
any successor regulations)
``(H) grated American cheese food as defined in section
133.147 of title 21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any
successor regulations); or
``(I) any other product the Secretary may designate as a
process cheese.
``(3) For purposes of this paragraph, the term `milk' has
the meaning given such term in section 133.3 of title 21,
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regulations)
and includes the lacteal secretions from animals other than
cows.''.
(b) Labeling.--Section 403 of the Federal Food Drug and
Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``(z) If its label or labeling includes the term `natural
cheese' as a factual descriptor of a category of cheese
unless the food meets the definition of natural cheese under
section 201(ss), except that nothing in this paragraph shall
prohibit the use of the term `natural' or `all-natural', or a
similar claim or statement with respect to a food in a manner
that is consistent with regulations, guidance, or policy
statements issued by the Secretary.''.
(c) National Uniformity.--Section 403A(a)(2) of the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343-1(a)(2)) is
amended by striking ``or 403(w)'' and inserting ``403(w), or
403(z)''.
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