The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) develops and provides labeling guidance, policies and inspection methods, and administers programs to protect consumers from misbranded and economically adulterated meat and poultry products which ensures that all labels are truthful and not misleading.
FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book
FSIS Labeling Policies – includes labeling information for generic label approval, irradiation, natural or regenerated collagen sausage casing, net weight labeling, nutrition labeling information, product dating, and standards of identity.
Label Submission and Approval System (LSAS)
FSIS Labeling Ingredients Guidance
FSIS Guideline on Kit Product Labeling– The purpose of this guideline is to provide information on the labeling and inspection of multi-component food kits (henceforth, kit products) that contain a meat or poultry component.
Guide to Federal Food Labeling Requirements for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products
FSIS Directives
6810.1 Grademark Labeling on Meat and Poultry Products (Sep 22, 1989)
7000.4 Verifying Certain Transferred Labeling (Dec 8, 2008)
7130.1 Verifying Nutrition Labeling for the Major Cuts of Single-Ingredient, Raw Meat and Poultry Products and Ground or Chopped Meat and Poultry Products (Jul 8, 2015)
7220.1 Food Labeling Division Policy Memoranda (Aug 2, 2005)
7221.1 Prior Labeling Approval- Revision 1 (Jan 6, 2014)
7230.1 Ongoing Verification of Product Formulation and Labeling Targeting the Eight Most Common (“BIG 8”) Food Allergens (Sep 26, 2018)
7235.1 Mandatory Safe Handling Statements on Labeling of Raw and Partially Cooked Meat and Poultry Products (May 11, 1994)
7237.1 Labeling of Ingredients- Revision 1 Amendment 1 (Aug 9, 1994)
7270.1 Sampling and Testing Procedures for Raw Poultry Products Labeled “Fresh”- Revision 1 (Aug 13, 1998)
9900.5 Label Verification of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products- Revision 1 (Jan 24, 2019)
FSIS Notices
11-19 Information Regarding Instructional Labeling Statements for Raw Beef Products Shipped to Intermediary Official Establishments Prior to Delivery to an Official Establishment for Full Lethality Treatment to Address Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli (Apr 30, 2019; expires May 1, 2020)
19-19 Label Verification of Imported Raw Beef Products Labeled “For Cooking Only” or “For Full Lethality Treatment” (issues Jun 19, 2019; expires Jul 1, 2020)
26-19 FSIS Sampling for Labeling Claims Verification (issues Aug 20, 2019; expires Sep 1, 2020)