Riding the coattails of the GMO labeling debate, the American Grass-Fed Association is leading an effort seeking updated guidance for grass-fed labeling from USDA. Joining the association is the Consumer Federation of America and the National Farmers Union. The groups are asking the guidance at a minimum to require that producers comply with grass-fed label standards set by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in 2006 but revoked in January. Meatingplace reports revoking the standards has led to confusion in the marketplace. In a letter to USDA, the groups urged the federal agency to provide clear direction and resist calls to “cheapen” grass-fed labeling claims. When it withdrew its standards, AMS said it had determined that it did not have the authority to define the term grass-fed. It said that responsibility lies with USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. The letter was also signed by the Center for Rural Affairs, Consumer Reports, the CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley, Food Animal Concerns Trust, National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, and Western Organization of Resource Councils.