A new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rule has officially transformed “Product of USA” into a verifiable, high-integrity standard. As of Jan. 1, the label, “Product of USA,” is now a real standard for meat, poultry, and egg products, closing a policy loophole.
A long-standing loophole allowed imported meat and other products to carry the label if it was simply repackaged or minimally processed in a U.S. facility.
“It all has to happen in this country,” Brooke Rollins, Agriculture Secretary, said. “No shortcuts. No exceptions. No confusion.”
The new standard, finalized in March 2024 and fully enforceable since the start of 2026, closes this gap and practice that often misled consumers who believed they were supporting American ranchers. It ensures that the label is reserved exclusively for products that are truly American from start to finish.
“It’s a clear, commonsense standard that celebrates each farmer and rancher that is behind a ‘Product of USA’ label,” James Tupper, president of Cattlemen’s Association, said.
The USDA’s criteria to use the “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” claim, icludes “Born, Raised, Harvested, and Processed:”
- Single-Ingredient Products: The animal must have been born, raised, slaughtered, and processed entirely within the United States.
- Multi-Ingredient Products: For items like sausage or beef stew, every FSIS-regulated component (the meat or eggs) must meet the “born and raised” criteria. Additionally, all other ingredients—excluding spices and flavorings—must be of domestic origin, and all processing must occur in the U.S..
- Visual Symbols: Use of the U.S. flag or other American imagery on these products is now legally considered a U.S.-origin claim and must meet these same strict standards
If a product does not meet the full “born and raised” standard, the label can still highlight their U.S. operations using qualified claims that clearly describes exactly what happened in the United States.
While the label remains voluntary, any company choosing to use it must now maintain strict documentation to prove their claim, ensuring that “Product of USA” is no longer just a marketing slogan, but a real standard of origin.
“This is a positive step in advancing our goal of empowering consumers to support American’s beef supply chain through their purchasing decisions,” Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF, said.
COMMENTS