Consumer groups fear the slow pace of rule-writing may delay until 2018 the labeling of mechanically tenderized meat, says Food Safety News. It says the Consumer Federation of America and other groups were drafting a letter to be sent to USDA today to encourage it to act promptly. USDA has drafted a rule and it is undergoing review at the departmental level. “If the mechanically tenderized beef label isn’t finalized until 2015, the label won’t make it to beef packages until 2018, nearly 20 years after consumer groups first brought up food safety concerns over the practice of mechanical tenderization,” said Food Safety News.