Beef raised in Brazil. Pork processed in Canada. Eggs raised in New Zealand. All of these products—and more—are eligible for a “Product of USA” label under the current label regulations.
But that could change if new regulations are passed by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS).
Using a “Product of USA” label is voluntary, and it would remain so with these proposed changes. But under the current guidelines, food such as meat, eggs and poultry can use that label even if the meat originated outside of the country—as long as it undergoes “significant” changes upon entering the US. That can mean beef that is raised and processed in New Zealand but trimmed and rewrapped in the US could be labeled as a product of the USA.
In a 2021 survey, the US Department of Agriculture found that the current “Product of USA” labeling conventions were confusing and misleading for consumers. Many of the survey respondents believed that a product with that label would mean that the animal was raised, slaughtered and processed within the country.
