Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has joined a coalition of 11 state attorneys general in supporting cattle ranchers in a federal court case over the use of “Product of USA” labels on foreign-sourced beef.
The states filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit arguing that some meat manufacturers are misleading consumers by using the label on beef from cattle born, raised, and slaughtered overseas — sometimes with only minimal processing or packaging done in the United States.
“Ranchers in Oklahoma and across the United States put in tremendous effort to produce the world’s highest quality beef,” Drummond said. “The ‘Product of USA’ label symbolizes the quality of American beef. Using such a label for foreign-sourced beef is dishonest and just plain inaccurate.”
The brief supports a lawsuit by South Dakota ranchers against four major meatpacking companies. A district court sided with the ranchers; the companies are appealing. The states argue that the labeling practice violates the Federal Meat Inspection Act, which prohibits false or misleading labels, and that federal approval based on outdated USDA policy does not override state authority to enforce accurate labeling.
According to the states’ filing, a USDA study found that 84% of consumers believe “Product of USA” beef comes from cattle born, raised, slaughtered, and processed in the United States. Federal rules requiring that standard will take effect in January 2026, but the states contend current law already prohibits the disputed labeling.
The attorneys general for South Dakota, Colorado, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming also signed the brief.
