Product of USA: Regulatory Meaning, Trade History, and Structural Labeling Implications
Product of USA: Regulatory Meaning, Trade History, and Structural Labeling Implications FAT RESEARCH SERIES Product of USA Regulatory Meaning, Trade History, and Structural Labeling Implications Farm Animal Transparency Research Paper Paper No. 1 (Labeling Law) February 2026 Abstract “Product of USA” is a voluntary claim regulated through USDA-FSIS meat labeling oversight. Historically, the claim often […]
Farm Animal Transparency: From Retail Demand to Producer Incentives – Can Origin Labels Bridge the Gap?
From Retail Demand to Producer Incentives – Can Origin Labels Bridge the Gap?
Evidence Supporting Reinstatement of COOL for U.S. Beef, Pork, and Chicken
Evidence Supporting Reinstatement of COOL for U.S. Beef, Pork, and Chicken Background and Renewed Interest in COOL Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat was first enacted in the 2002 Farm Bill and implemented in 2009, requiring retailers to label fresh beef, pork, chicken, and certain other foods by origineverycrsreport.comeverycrsreport.com. In 2015, however, Congress repealed COOL […]
Evidence That Does Not Support COOL
Evidence That Does Not Support COOL—-Impact of COOL on U.S. Beef, Pork, and Chicken Producer Prices (2000–Present) Background: What Is COOL and Why It Matters Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) for meat became mandatory in the U.S. in the 2000s (effective 2009 for fresh meats) with the intent to inform consumers of where their food animals were […]
Policy & Market Pressures on Transparent Domestic Beef
Policy & Market Pressures on Transparent Domestic Beef Introduction American beef producers face converging regulatory and market forces that demand greater transparency in cattle origin and production. Recent policy shifts – from the USDA’s tightening of “Product of USA” label rules to executive actions promoting supply-chain scrutiny – are reshaping how domestic beef is marketed. […]
From Compliance to Brand: How Retailers Are Turning Verified U.S. Beef Into Consumer Trust
Building Consumer Trust: From Compliance to Brand: Provings Its US Beef
Product of USA After FSIS Revisions: What Changed, What It Costs, and Who Bears the Burden
Product of USA After FSIS Revisions: What Changed, What It Costs, and Who Bears the Burden For decades, “Product of USA” functioned less as a legal standard than as a marketing convention. Beef could be imported, processed, or blended in ways that obscured origin, yet still carry language that consumers reasonably interpreted as American. […]
Lean Beef Imports for Hamburger Sold in America
Lean Beef Imports for Hamburger Sold in America
What is American Hamburger
Is My Hamburger Really American? A FAT Guide to American Hamburger Transparency and Ground Beef Transparency In light of recent discussions about American Hamburger Transparency, it’s essential to understand the complexities of ground beef sourcing.
Biden Leadership on Beef Marketing
In my experience as a Montana cattleman for the last 40 years, a frequent topic of rancher conversations has been concentration in the beef packer business which has reduced cattlemen’s share of beef value by more than 30%.
Another significant rancher concern has been inaccurate beef labeling about the origin of the beef sold in the meat case.
Because of the legitimate concerns, I’d like to highlight three successful federal efforts that are particularly important for Montana ranchers that arose from Biden Leadership on Beef Marketing