I 
116TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4487 
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define the term 
natural cheese. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 
Mr. KIND (for himself, Mr. LONG, and Mr. SCHRADER) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to 
define the term natural cheese. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Codifying Useful Regu-
latory Definitions Act’’ or the ‘‘CURD Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds as follows: 
(1) There is a need to define the term ‘‘natural 
cheese’’ in order to maintain transparency and con-
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:30 Sep 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4487.IH
H4487
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
sistency for consumers so that they may differen-
tiate ‘‘natural cheese’’ from ‘‘process cheese’’. 
(2) The term ‘‘natural cheese’’ has been used 
within the cheese making industry for more than 50 
years and is well-established. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITION OF NATURAL CHEESE. 
(a) DEFINITION.—Section 201 of the Federal Food, 
Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 321) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(ss)(1) The term ‘natural cheese’ means cheese that 
is a ripened or unripened soft, semi-soft, or hard product, 
which may be coated, that is produced— 
‘‘(A) by— 
‘‘(i) coagulating wholly or partly the pro-
tein of milk, skimmed milk, partly skimmed 
milk, cream, whey cream, or buttermilk, or any 
combination of such ingredients, through the 
action of rennet or other suitable coagulating 
agents, and by partially draining the whey re-
sulting from the coagulation, while respecting 
the principle that cheese-making results in a 
concentration of milk protein (in particular, the 
casein portion), and that consequently, the pro-
tein content of the cheese will be distinctly 
higher than the protein level of the blend of the 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:30 Sep 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4487.IH
H4487
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
above milk materials from which the cheese was 
made; or 
‘‘(ii) processing techniques involving coagu-
lation of the protein of milk or products ob-
tained from milk to produce an end-product 
with similar physical, chemical, and organolep-
tic characteristics as the product described in 
subclause (i); and 
‘‘(iii) including the addition of safe and 
suitable non-milk derived ingredients of the 
type permitted in the standards of identity de-
scribed in clause (B) as natural cheese; or 
‘‘(B) in accordance with standards of identity 
under part 133 of title 21, Code of Federal Regula-
tions (or any successor regulations), other than the 
standards described in subparagraph (2) or any fu-
ture standards adopted by the Secretary in accord-
ance with subparagraph (2)(I). 
‘‘(2) Such term does not include— 
‘‘(A) pasteurized process cheeses as defined in 
section 133.169, 133.170, or 133.171 of title 21, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regu-
lations); 
‘‘(B) pasteurized process cheese foods as de-
fined in section 133.173 or 133.174 of title 21, Code 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:30 Sep 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H4487.IH
H4487
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
21, Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regula-
tions) and includes the lacteal secretions from animals 
other than cows.’’. 
(b) LABELING.—Section 403 of the Federal Food 
Drug and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 343) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(z) If its label or labeling includes the term ‘natural 
cheese’ as a factual descriptor of a category of cheese un-
less the food meets the definition of natural cheese under 
section 201(ss), except that nothing in this paragraph 
shall prohibit the use of the term ‘natural’ or ‘all-natural’, 
or a similar claim or statement with respect to a food in 
a manner that is consistent with regulations, guidance, or 
policy statements issued by the Secretary.’’. 
(c) NATIONAL UNIFORMITY.—Section 403A(a)(2) of 
the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 
343–1(a)(2)) is amended by striking ‘‘or 403(w)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘403(w), or 403(z)’’. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
04:30 Sep 28, 2019
Jkt 089200
PO 00000
Frm 00005
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H4487.IH
H4487
kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS