Trump’s lower-cost beef imports have arrived
What the USDA Stamp Means
A USDA stamp does not necessarily mean the cattle were raised in America. Under the temporary change, imported lean beef trimmings can enter the U.S. and be blended into ground beef.
The clearest origin wording is “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA,” indicating the animals were born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S.
Read the Fine Print
Country-of-origin information may appear near the nutrition panel, especially when meat is “commingled” from multiple countries.
Quality Isn’t Origin
Labels such as “USDA Prime” and “USDA Choice” describe quality, not where the cattle came from. Even “processed in the USA” can refer to imported meat handled domestically.
Check Before Buying
With prices rising and U.S. cattle herds shrinking, shoppers should read labels carefully and look for precise country-of-origin wording.
