U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced a proposed rule with new regulatory requirements regarding the "Product of USA" label.
Labels stating "Product of USA" and "Made in the USA" can be used on meat, poultry and egg products when derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S., according to a March 6 news release.
"American consumers expect that when they buy a meat product at the grocery store, the claims they see on the label mean what they say," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in the news release. "These proposed changes are intended to provide consumers with accurate information to make informed purchasing decisions. Our action today affirms USDA’s commitment to ensuring accurate and truthful product labeling."
The proposed new rule stems from USDA's review prompted by a request from three industry organizations for revised guidance because the present voluntary label rule is "confusing to consumers," the release reported
"By law, no product may bear any false or misleading label, such as labeling which conveys any false impression or gives any false indication of origin," the proposed new rule said, according to the release.
The proposed new rule would amend regulations about voluntary claims for meat, poultry and egg products, in addition to voluntarily-inspected products "to indicate that the products are of U.S. origin," the release reported
The proposed rule also follows supports President Joe Biden's executive order on promoting competition in the American economy and thousands of comments by stakeholders in a nationwide USDA consumer survey, the release reported. The survey found the current "Product of USA" label claim to be misleading to a majority of consumers, and the proposed rule would require supporting documentation to be file with USDA inspection personnel to verify a given product's origin.
"Product of USA" and "Made in USA" label claims would remain voluntary and eligible for generic label approval, according to the release.
