Food Safety News says “the earliest consumers will see labels on mechanically tenderized beef in grocery stores will be 2018” because the administration failed to complete work on the regulation during December. New labeling requirements are introduced in two-year increments, says the news site so 2014 was the cut-off point for rules to take effect in 2016, which makes 2018 the implementation date for rules completed this year. FSN quoted the Consumer Federation of America as saying “consumers are going to be at risk from this product for much longer than they need to be” and blaming USDA for moving too slowly. USDA had no immediate comment, said FSN. It says, “Mechanical tenderization of beef poses health risks because it can transfer potential pathogens from the surface of the meat down into the center. If the cuts are cooked rare or not thoroughly enough, the pathogens in the center may go on to sicken the consumer.”