Kevin’s Natural Foods, based in Stockton, CA, is looking for flexibility with the beef stroganoff standard. It has filed a petition with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), requesting an amendment for similar products that do not meet the existing beef stroganoff standard in the FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book.

“Specifically, the petition requests that FSIS allow such products to be labeled as “Beef Stroganoff” qualified by adjectives such as “like, inspired, or flavored” if the product is not nutritionally inferior to standardized Beef Stroganoff products,” the agency reported.

“The petition asserts that labeling that describes your product as “Beef Stroganoff – Inspired Entree with Cauliflower Noodles, Stroganoff-Inspired Entree made with tender strips of Grass-Fed Beef, Cauliflower noodles, and a rich, savory sauce” is accurate and not misleading to consumers,” it added.

The FSIS has the petition under review as a policy change under regulations on the petition. It was referred to the Office of Policy and Program Development for the study. It is assigned petition number 22-03.

The petition is available to the public in the FSIS docket room and is posted on the FSIS Website.

Steven Ciganek, Director of Quality Assurance for Kevin’s Natural Foods, said the petition was submitted “in the hopes that our stroganoff-like sauce may be identified and would not have to have the title stroganoff excluded from the label.”

“Our executive chef and marketing team based this recipe on simulating a Stroganoff dish in a format that would allow it to meet the rigorous qualifications of the Paleo and Gluten-Free organizations.” he continued.

“Our customers view these certifications as dietary identification markers of our products, which are sought after in supporting their wellness. Many of our customers have gluten sensitivity, sugar tolerances, or may need support in weight loss.”

The petition for Kevin’s Natural Foods was submitted on behalf of its parent company, CalChef Foods LLC. “It hopes our stroganoff-like sauce may be identified as such and would not have to have the title stroganoff excluded from the label.”

According to Dun and Bradstreet, Calchef Foods, LLC is located in Stockton, CA, and is part of the Other Food Manufacturing Industry. Calchef Foods, LLC has 28 employees across all of its locations and generates $5.92 million in sales (USD).

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