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.
Resources
SMA Nutritional Labeling- SMA is offers nutritional labeling for single and multi ingredient products to members at a minimal cost. Download the Nutritional Labeling Forms and Confidentiality Agreement here.
FSIS Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book– The guidance provides examples of meat and poultry product labels that are true and not misleading. Additionally, claims and statements. Meat and poultry product labels that carry claims and statements listed in this guidance and that otherwise comply with FSIS labeling regulations are deemed to be generically approved by the Agency without being submitted for evaluation and approval.
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.
FSIS Labeling Procedures– includes integration of paper label applications into LSAS, extraordinary circumstances, temporary label approval, and procedures for labeling evaluation submission.
FSIS Labeling & Generic Labeling Overview (August 24, 2021)
Label Submission & Approval System (LSAS)
Click here for LSAS
LSAS User Guide for Industry User
Labeling Ingredients
FSIS Labeling Ingredients Guidance
Labeling Claims
Animal Raising Claims Labeling Guidelines Update (Sept. 1, 2021)
FSIS Guidelines
Quick link to FSIS Labeling Guidelines
FSIS-GD-2017-011 FSIS Compliance Guideline for Label Approval (Updated July 2020)
FSIS-GD-2007-001 A Guide to Federal Food Labeling Requirements for Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products (Issued Aug. 2007)
FSIS Directives
7000.4 Verifying Certain Transferred Labeling (Dec 8, 2008)
7120.1 Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products (Revised Oct. 24, 2022)
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)
7221.1 Prior Labeling Approval- Revision 2 (June 7, 2021)
7230.1 Ongoing Verification of Product Formulation and Labeling Targeting the Eight Most Common (“BIG 8”) Food Allergens (Sep 26, 2018)
9900.5 Label Verification of Imported Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products- Revision 2 (Dec 21, 2020)
FSIS Notices
61-22 Rescission of Dual Labeling Requirements for Certain Packages of Meat and Poultry Products (issued Oct. 24, 2022; expires Nov. 1, 2023)