Posted on February 24th, 2026

The “Made in USA” claim sounds simple until you try to put it on a package and realize there are different rulebooks depending on what you sell, where you sell it, and which agency has jurisdiction. The newest changes are especially relevant for food businesses that use origin claims as a selling point, because regulators have tightened how certain phrases can appear on labels. If you’re updating packaging in 2026, it’s a good time to get clear on what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how to keep your label claims aligned with the rules.

Made In USA Label Rules You’ll Run Into In 2026

For many brands, the biggest shift isn’t that “Made in USA” suddenly became illegal. The shift is that the rules are getting more specific in certain categories, and enforcement is getting easier because the standards are written down with clearer lines. Two key players tend to come up first: the FTC for many consumer products, and USDA’s FSIS for meat, poultry, and egg products.

A simple way to sort the rulebooks is to start with what you’re selling and who regulates it:

• If you sell most consumer products (and many non-FSIS foods), the FTC’s Made in USA labeling rule is the main reference point for an unqualified made in usa label claim.

• If you sell meat, poultry, or egg products regulated by FSIS, the USDA rule sets the conditions for voluntary U.S.-origin claims like Product of USA and Made in the USA, with a compliance date of January 1, 2026.

• If you import products (or components) into the U.S., country-of-origin marking rules for foreign goods come from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which generally requires articles of foreign origin to be marked with their country of origin unless an exception applies.

• If your product has mixed origin inputs, you may end up using a qualified origin claim instead of a simple made in usa label statement, especially in categories watched closely by regulators.

This matters because consumers treat origin claims like a promise, and regulators treat them like a claim you must be able to support with records. The newest U.S.-origin labeling change in 2026 is heavily tied to FSIS-regulated foods, but it also affects how brands think about documentation and marketing language across the board.

Made In USA Label Vs Product Of USA Label

“Made in USA” and “Product of USA” look interchangeable on a shelf, but they don’t always live under the same rules, and they don’t always mean the same thing. That’s where brands get exposed: a phrase that is acceptable in one category can become a problem in another, especially if you switch co-packers, change ingredients, or expand into a regulated protein category.

For FSIS-regulated items, the big story behind USDA labeling 2026 is that the voluntary Product of USA and “Made in the USA” claims now have clear conditions tied to where the animal was born, raised, slaughtered, and processed. That tight definition is meant to match what shoppers assume the claim already means.

Made In USA Label Claims Under FTC Standards

If your products fall under FTC oversight, the biggest concept to get right is the difference between unqualified and qualified origin claims. An unqualified made in usa label claim is the simple, bold version, with no limiting language. The FTC has long used the “all or virtually all” idea, and it was codified in the FTC’s Made in USA Labeling Rule that became effective in August 2021.

Here are common ways brands make qualified Made in USA claims that reduce risk while staying market-friendly:

• “Made in USA with imported ingredients” for products where key components are sourced outside the U.S.

• “Assembled in USA” when final assembly happens domestically but parts come from elsewhere.

• “Made in USA from domestic and imported ingredients” when the mix is real and you can document it.

• “Packaged in USA” if your biggest U.S. step is packing, not manufacturing.

That doesn’t mean qualified claims are a free pass. You still need support for whatever you state. If you say “with imported ingredients,” you should be able to show what’s imported. If you say “assembled,” you should be able to show what assembly steps occur in the U.S. 

Made In USA Label Claims Under USDA Labeling 2026

If you sell FSIS-regulated meat, poultry, or egg products and you use U.S.-origin language, the 2026 compliance date is the headline. FSIS published a final rule in March 2024 with an effective date in 2024 and a compliance date set for January 1, 2026, tied to the uniform compliance date for new labeling regulations.

This rule covers voluntary U.S.-origin claims like “Product of USA” and “Made in the USA” on FSIS-regulated products. Under the rule, these claims are generically approved for single-ingredient FSIS-regulated products only when they’re derived from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States.

Multi-ingredient products have additional requirements. The rule allows generic approval for “Product of USA” and “Made in the USA” on multi-ingredient FSIS-regulated products if all FSIS-regulated ingredients come from animals born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the U.S., other ingredients (other than spices and flavorings) are of domestic origin, and preparation and processing steps occur in the U.S.

Made In USA Label Checklist Before You Print

Origin claims often get added late in the packaging process, sometimes as a marketing decision near the finish line. That’s when mistakes happen, because printing is fast and supply chains are messy. A short pre-print check can save you a relabel, a stopped shipment, or an awkward retailer question.

Before you approve your next label run, it helps to run through a quick set of checks for new food labeling regulation risk areas:

• Confirm which agency has jurisdiction for your product category, especially if you sell FSIS-regulated items.

• Match your made in usa label claim type to your facts: unqualified only if you can support it, qualified if you have meaningful foreign inputs.

• If you use Product of USA or “Made in the USA” on FSIS-regulated foods, confirm your sourcing aligns with the born/raised/slaughtered/processed criteria and the multi-ingredient limits.

• Check your artwork for implied claims: flags, maps, and “American made” language can still create an origin message that needs support.

Once you’ve checked the claim itself, take one more look at how it reads in context. A phrase like product from the usa label can sound harmless, but it can imply more than you intend if the rest of the label leans hard into American origin themes.

Related: How to Meet FDA Compliance in Food Manufacturing

Conclusion

The new rules around U.S.-origin claims are pushing food labels toward clearer, more provable statements. In 2026, the biggest practical change for many food businesses is that “Made in USA” and “Product of USA” claims on certain products can’t rely on loose interpretations. A solid label claim starts with the right rulebook, the right wording, and records that match what’s printed.

At HACCPDIY, we help brands tighten label language and reduce risk before packaging goes to print. Experience fewer delays and more confidence in your origin claims by booking support through our service page. If you have questions before you buy, reach out at [email protected] and we’ll help you take the next step.