The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recently proposed new rules for food products bearing the "Product of USA" label claim.
Under the proposed rule, only products that are "made from animals born, raised, and slaughtered in the United States or that are processed in the United States" would be eligible to carry the label. This is in contrast to current regulations that allow meat and poultry products to be labeled as "Product of USA" even if the animals were raised and slaughtered in other countries.
The proposed rule aims to provide consumers with more accurate and transparent information about the origin of their food products, and to promote American-made products. The USDA hopes that this will give American producers a competitive edge in the global market and help to support local agriculture and food production.
The proposed rule has been met with mixed reactions, with some consumer advocacy groups welcoming the increased transparency and others expressing concern about the potential for confusion and misinterpretation of the new labeling requirements. The USDA has opened a public comment period for feedback on the proposed rule, which will be open for 60 days.
The proposed rule for "Product of USA" labeling requirements seeks to promote transparency and accountability in American-made products. By restricting the use of this label claim to products that are genuinely made in the United States, the USDA hopes to provide consumers with more accurate information about the origin of their food products and support American agriculture and food production.