Product of the US media release-FINALLY! Thanks to Will Harris for starting this journey.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Carrie Balkcom
Executive Director, American Grassfed Association
carrie
(303) 591-3978
American Grassfed Association Applauds USDA’s Proposed Rule on "Product of USA" Label Claim
American Grassfed Association celebrates USDA’s proposed rule to limit the “Product of USA” label exclusively to meat, poultry, and eggs derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States. The proposed rule aims to align the voluntary label claim with consumer understanding and ensure accurate and truthful labeling for informed purchasing decisions. This announcement delivers on a commitment made in the Biden-Harris Administration’s Action Plan for a Fairer, More Competitive, and More Resilient Meat and Poultry Supply Chain. This is an important step toward closing the loophole that has allowed multinational corporations to import meat and pass it off as a higher-quality product raised by U.S. farmers and ranchers.
American Grassfed Association and Joe Maxwell, President and Cofounder of Farm Action filed a petition in 2018 that led to the USDA’s comprehensive review to understand the “Product of USA” label claim’s meaning to consumers. This petition prompted the USDA’s Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) to take up the issue in March of 2022. A nationwide consumer survey commissioned by USDA in July of 2021 to understand what the "Product of USA" claim means to consumers and inform the proposed rulemaking revealed that the current labeling claim misleads a majority of consumers, with a significant portion believing the claim means that the product was made from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States.
The AGA believes that truthful labels protect consumers and keep the playing field fair. Carrie Balkcom, Executive Director of AGA, said, “Deceptive labeling has undercut the profitability of American grassfed producers. As grassfed beef sales continue to rise, U.S.-based producers are forced to compete with products from offshore that may or may not meet the same criteria that American family farmers adhere to. AGA applauds USDA’s proposed rule, but we urge Congress to restore MCOOL to protect American farmers, ranchers, and consumers.”
Greg Gunthorp, AGA Board Member and American Producer added, “Rules requiring born, raised, slaughtered, and processed to use Product of USA will provide domestic farmers and small processors huge opportunities to compete fairly in the grassfed and USDA procurement program. I can only hope this is but the first step of many in ensuring truthful labels in the US.”
While the proposed rule is a step in the right direction, American Grassfed Association believes Congress must act to restore Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef and pork, requiring meat and meat products to disclose the country where the animals were born, raised, and slaughtered. Currently, MCOOL only covers lamb, chicken, and other food commodities, and in 2015, Congress directed the USDA to roll back this law for beef and pork, allowing these products to be sold without country designation on the label.
American Grassfed Association applauds USDA’s commitment to ensuring accurate and truthful product labeling and encourages all stakeholders to comment on the proposed rule.
Public comments can be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov.
About American Grassfed Association:
American Grassfed Association is the national organization supporting independent family farmers raising livestock on pasture, encouraging sustainable and regenerative farming practices, and promoting the production and consumption of grassfed meat and dairy products.
To learn more, visit www.americangrassfed.org.
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