As of January 1, “Product of USA” Finally Means What You Think It Means
A new USDA rule closes a policy loophole that allowed imported meat to receive the “Product of USA” label.
Everywhere else in the store, product labels tell you their country of origin—from T-shirts to pet treats. But meat is often the exception.
Beef and pork can be imported and sold in the U.S. with no country-of-origin label. That keeps shoppers guessing, makes it harder for independent ranchers to compete, and lets the biggest meat companies profit from a system that hides the truth.
Restoring Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) would fix this. MCOOL requires meat labels to clearly state where the animal was born, raised, and slaughtered. But in 2015, Congress rolled back MCOOL for beef and pork, so these products can be sold without an origin label.
Restoring MCOOL is essential—and achievable:
Congress must pass the American Beef Labeling Act and the Country of Origin Labeling Enforcement Act, bipartisan legislation that would reinstate mandatory labeling for beef.
And the 2026 review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) gives the Trump administration a chance to restore MCOOL protections for all meat traded across North America.
Clear origin labels mean a fairer market for ranchers and better information for shoppers. And they’re one concrete way to push back on a food system that’s been built to benefit the biggest corporations.
Farm Action will keep fighting until we get there.
Big meat companies have spent years using confusing labels to hide where meat really comes from. Farm Action has taken those fights head-on—and won.
Win #1: Cracking down on fake “Made in USA” claims
For years, companies used “Made in USA” to make meat look more American than it really was. Farm Action pushed regulators to act. As a result, the Federal Trade Commission strengthened its rules so companies can only use this label when it truly meets a high standard. That helped stop some of the worst abuse and made it harder for companies to mislead shoppers.
Win #2: Closing the “Product of USA” loophole
Another trick let imported meat be labeled “Product of USA” just because it was repackaged or lightly processed in the United States. Farm Action helped force the U.S. Department of Agriculture to close that loophole. Now, that label can only be used when animals are born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S.
These wins prove that when we push hard, we can beat corporate power and change the rules.
But they don’t solve the whole problem. Both of these fixes apply to voluntary labels. Most beef and pork can still be sold without a clear country-of-origin label at the store. That’s why restoring MCOOL is the next and necessary step—and why we won’t stop until shoppers get the truth and ranchers get a fair shot.
Farm Action has long pursued the goal of honest country of origin labeling, which can be achieved through action by Congress, the White House, USDA, and FTC. Learn more below:
A new USDA rule closes a policy loophole that allowed imported meat to receive the “Product of USA” label.
“MCOOL is not optional—it is essential. It is essential for rebuilding the herd, restoring fairness, and protecting our food security. The USMCA Joint Review is your moment to fix this,” said Farm Action’s Joe Maxwell.
“For years, multinational meatpackers have been allowed to import beef without indicating its origin—undermining U.S. ranchers and leaving consumers in the dark,” said Farm Action President Angela Huffman.
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