I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4828 
To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to define the term 
natural cheese. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 18, 2018 
Mr. LONG (for himself, Mr. KIND, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. GROTHMAN, and Mr. 
DUFFY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee 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-
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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— 
‘‘(A) is produced from the milk of lactating ani-
mals or from other dairy ingredients; and 
‘‘(B) is produced in accordance with— 
‘‘(i) natural cheese standards of identity 
under part 133 or section 130.10 of title 21, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor 
regulations); 
‘‘(ii) natural cheese standards of identity 
under applicable State law, if any; or 
‘‘(iii) natural cheese practices that are not 
established in any law or regulation. 
‘‘(2) Such term does not include— 
‘‘(A) pasteurized process cheeses as defined in 
section 133.169, 133.170, or 133.171 of title 21, 
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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 
of Federal Regulations (or any successor regula-
tions); 
‘‘(C) pasteurized cheese spreads as defined in 
section 133.175, 133.176, or 133.178 of title 21, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or any successor regu-
lations); 
‘‘(D) pasteurized process cheese spreads as de-
fined in section 133.179 or 133.180 of title 21, Code 
of Federal Regulations (or any successor regula-
tions); 
‘‘(E) pasteurized blended cheeses as defined in 
section 133.167 or 133.168 of title 21, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (or any successor regulations); 
‘‘(F) any products comparable to any product 
described in any of subparagraphs (A) through (E); 
or 
‘‘(G) cold pack cheeses as defined in section 
133.123, 133.124, or 133.125 title 21, Code of Fed-
eral Regulations (or any successor regulations), or 
any comparable products.’’. 
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(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’, unless 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’, ‘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 
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