What is the role of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)?

he USDA encompasses 29 agencies, with several key areas of focus: farm production and conservation; food, nutrition, and consumer services; food safety; marketing and regulatory programs; natural resources and environment; research, education, and economics; rural development; and trade and foreign agricultural affairs.

The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) regulates the safety of meat, poultry, catfish, and egg products and ensures they’re properly labeled. USDA (FSIS) regulates processed egg products, which include liquid, frozen, and dried eggs that have been removed from the shell and pasteurized. This covers liquid whole eggs, egg whites, yolks, and dried or frozen egg products. Shell eggs in cartons are regulated by the FDA.

The FDA regulates raw fruits and vegetables under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), including the Produce Safety Rule. USDA’s role in produce is limited to certain marketing orders and grading programs.

For pet food, USDA’s role is limited to inspection and labeling requirements for ingredients of meat or poultry origin. The FDA regulates pet food safety, labeling, and ingredient approvals overall.

What's required?

• Meat, poultry, and egg producers must follow the USDA’s FSIS regulations to ensure their products are safe and correctly labeled.
• Organic farms and businesses involved in organic supply chains must adhere to USDA’s National Organic Program standard.
• Farms with significant produce sales (an average of $500,000 during each of the past three years) must comply with the FDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule. This includes standards for worker training, health and hygiene, and domesticated and wild animals, as well as standards to ensure that equipment, tools, and buildings are properly cleaned and maintained to prevent produce contamination.
• Restaurants and retail establishments must use USDA-inspected meat, poultry, and catfish products, but their operations are regulated by state and local health departments, not USDA.