USDA said it would grant a request by ConAgra Inc unit, Armour Swift-Eckrich to permit the use of sodium acetate and sodium diacetate as flavoring agents in meat and poultry products.
The agency's Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a Federal Register notice that both ingredients were safe and made products more appealing to consumers.
The new rule, which takes effect August 22, will allow meat and poultry processors to use sodium acetate up to 0.12% of the product formulation, and sodium diacetate at up to 0.1% of the product formulation.
Armour Swift-Eckrich asked USDA for the change in regulations so it could use the ingredients to improve the flavor of its meat and poultry products.
Sodium acetate is the sodium salt of vinegar, and sodium diacetate is a blend of vinegar and salt of vinegar. Both ingredients are used as flavoring agents and as pH control agents.
The USDA said the change in regulations would become effective in 60 days unless it received comments from the public opposing the action.
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