In a 'win for American farmers, ranchers and consumers,' the USDA finalizes rules regarding 'Product of U.S.A.' labels

The final rule will help consumers know where their food
comes from. (USDA photo via Michigan Farm News)

Finding meat and poultry produced solely on U.S. farms in today's grocery store is tricky, if not impossible, because of loopholes in the Department of Agriculture's labeling rules. But those rules are set for a long-awaited change, reports Claire Carlson of The Daily Yonder. "Starting in 2026, 'Product of U.S.A.' labels will be allowed only on meat and poultry products made from animals that were 'born, raised, and slaughtered within the United States.' Experts say it will significantly help U.S.-based producers' bottom line."

For years, the biggest meat producers, such as Cargill, J.B.S., Tyson and National Beef, have used labels that could lead consumers to think American farmers produced the meat. Carlson explains, "These corporations produced cheaper products by outsourcing to countries with fewer health and safety regulations for their workers and animals, then labeled the meat as 'Product of U.S.A.,' because they package it within the United States, they said. American producers were unable to compete with these cheap prices or distinguish their American-made products from the outsourced meat products, according to advocacy groups."

Marty Irby, board director for the non-profit research group Organization for Competitive Markets, told Carlson, "[Product of U.S.A. loopholes] enabled [the meat packers] to be able to sell cheap beef to consumers and make people think that they were actually buying an American made product." Carson adds, "Small farmers and ranchers in rural America especially felt the brunt of this. The number of U.S. farmers and ranchers has been in decline in recent years as big corporations merge producers in the meat, poultry, and egg markets . . . . From 2022 to 2023, farm incomes dropped by $41.8 billion, according to USDA data." Joe Maxwell, co-founder of the advocacy group Farm Action and a long-time farmer, told Carlson, "[The regulation] is a huge win for America’s farmers, ranchers, and consumers."