December 30/Washington/The Virginian-Pilot -- The Agriculture Department will require many meat labels to include the number of calories and other nutritional information starting in 2012 so that consumers can make healthier decisions about what they eat.

The rule is part of the government's effort to educate Americans about nutrition and diets. It applies to 40 of the most popular cuts of meat and poultry products. Ground meat and poultry will have the facts on their labels. Raw cuts will offer the information on labels or to consumers where it is purchased.

Labels will list grams of total fat and saturated fat, and fat percentages for "lean" products. Major cuts affected are boneless chicken breasts, brisket and tenderloin. The rule also affects hamburgers and ground turkey.

From the January 10, 2011, Prepared Foods E-dition