"Made in USA" Label Only Applies To Farm Products Raised And Processed In U.S.

Shoppers who want to determine if their meat, eggs, and poultry were “Made in the USA” are expected to find the task easier once a finalized federal rule takes effect, as reported by Dee-Ann Durbin for the Associated Press (AP).

Under the new rule, the labels can only be used for products derived from animals that are born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the US.

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new requirements on Monday for meat and egg producers who use the voluntary “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” labels on their products.

Under the new rule, the labels can only be used for products derived from animals that are born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the US.

The rule will go into effect on January 1, 2026, but the government encouraged producers to start complying immediately.

The labels are voluntary and appear on around 12% of the meat, poultry, and eggs consumed in the US. Under the previous rule, companies could use “Product of the USA” labels on meat and other animal products that were imported from a foreign country.

The US imports about 12% of its beef from Australia, Canada, and Brazil, for example. Some US ranchers and groups like the American Grassfed Association (AGA) lobbied for the rule to be tightened.

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