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USDA Promotes Voluntary 'Product of USA' Label for Meat, Poultry, Eggs

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Published January 1st, 2026
Detected March 25th, 2026
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Summary

The USDA has launched a public awareness campaign for its new voluntary 'Product of USA' labeling standard, effective January 1, 2026. This standard is exclusively for meat, poultry, and egg products from animals born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States, aiming to increase transparency and consumer trust.

What changed

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign for the voluntary 'Product of USA' labeling standard, which became effective on January 1, 2026. This standard applies exclusively to meat, poultry, and egg products where the animals were born, raised, harvested, and processed within the United States. The initiative aims to enhance transparency in the food supply chain, build consumer trust, and ensure fair competition for producers who invest in a fully American supply chain.

Producers of meat, poultry, and eggs can voluntarily adopt this label to signify that their products meet the stringent 'Product of USA' criteria. The campaign seeks to educate consumers about the meaning of the label, empowering them to make informed purchasing decisions that support American agriculture. While the label is voluntary, its adoption is intended to strengthen the domestic food supply chain and reward producers committed to U.S.-based operations. No specific compliance deadline is mentioned for producers to adopt the label, as it is voluntary.

What to do next

  1. Review the 'Product of USA' voluntary labeling standard requirements.
  2. Determine eligibility for using the 'Product of USA' label for meat, poultry, and egg products.
  3. Consider adopting the voluntary 'Product of USA' label to enhance transparency and consumer trust.

Source document (simplified)

Press Release

USDA Promotes New, Voluntary “Product of USA” Label

New guidance supports transparency, consumer trust, and American ranchers Published:

March 24, 2026

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(Washington, D.C., March 24, 2026) – Today, on National Agriculture Day, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins announced the launch of a national public awareness campaign to inform meat, poultry, and egg producers of the “Product of USA” voluntary labeling standard which went into effect on January 1, 2026, and increases consumer understanding of what the label means.

“Our great patriot ranchers and producers grow, raise, and harvest the world’s safest, most affordable, and abundant food supply. American consumers want to support America by buying American and this label will strengthen our food supply chain through transparency, fairness, and trust,” said USDA Secretary Rollins. “This new standard policy ensures producers who invest in a fully American supply chain can compete fairly, and it gives consumers the confidence they deserve about the food they bring home.”

“When we choose to purchase from American producers, we get a superior product while supporting the hardworking family farms who put it all on the line every day to feed, clothe, and fuel our nation,” said SBA Administrator Loeffler. “Amid President Trump’s work to end years of unfair competition and eliminate the massive red tape that has crushed domestic agriculture, Made in America is finally making a comeback. Today, on National Agriculture Day, I urge all Americans to join me in support of the hardworking farmers and ranchers who anchor the U.S. food supply chain that is so vital to keeping our nation strong, safe, and healthy.”

“Our farmers and ranchers are essential to putting real food back at the center of the American plate and delivering on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” said HHS Secretary Kennedy. “‘Product of the USA’ labeling puts American producers first, gives families clear, honest information, and empowers them to choose food raised right here at home.”

“America’s farmers and ranchers are key to our national security, sustaining rural communities and keeping our food supply resilient,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “The ‘Product of the USA’ label rewards American farmers and ranchers who grow, raise, and process their products in the U.S., while giving consumers confidence they are supporting American agriculture. Together with USDA, the Trump Administration is streamlining processes and delivering solutions that strengthen agricultural productivity, rural prosperity, and the health of our environment.”

“U.S. producers are the best in the world, and produce the highest-quality products,” said North Dakota Senator Hoeven. “A ‘Product of USA’ label benefits our ranchers and provides transparency and confidence for consumers. We appreciate Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for their efforts to support our farmers, ranchers and rural communities.”

Under this standard, the “Product of USA” label is reserved exclusively for meat, poultry, and egg products from animals that were born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States. The claim is voluntary, but companies using it must meet this transparent and verifiable requirement. This ends the prior practice which allowed imported products to carry the claim after minimal processing and strengthens consumer confidence by aligning with what Americans expect and demand.

Since 2017, the United States has lost over 17% of family farms, more than 100,000 operations over the last decade. The national herd is at a 75-year low while consumer demand for beef has grown 9% over the past decade. In October 2025, Secretary Rollins released the USDA Plan to Fortify the American Beef Industry that focuses on rebuilding domestic capacity, improving transparency across the supply chain, and ensuring U.S. ranchers can compete on a level playing field.

Today’s announcement on enforcement and promotion of the strengthened “Product of USA” label is a key deliverable under this initiative, advancing the Trump Administration’s priorities of fairness, competition, and consumer trust.

Learn more at productofusa.gov.

Press Release Release No.: 0045.26

Named provisions

Product of USA label

Source

Analysis generated by AI. Source diff and links are from the original.

Classification

Agency
USDA
Published
January 1st, 2026
Instrument
Guidance
Legal weight
Non-binding
Stage
Final
Change scope
Substantive

Who this affects

Applies to
Drug manufacturers Food manufacturers
Industry sector
3114 Food & Beverage Manufacturing
Activity scope
Product Labeling Food Production
Threshold
Animals born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States
Geographic scope
United States US

Taxonomy

Primary area
Food Safety
Operational domain
Compliance
Topics
Consumer Protection Supply Chain

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