Meat and poultry

Learn about safe and humane meat processing through approved plants, inspections, and registration for meat and poultry handlers

Find a meat plant

Meat Inspection brochure

Current USDA recalls

If you have livestock you want slaughtered and/or processed in order to sell the product to a store, restaurant, or other retailer, you need to use a wholesale inspection slaughter plant . These plants follow inspection requirements and are approved for consumer safety. Use our interactive map and either limit to "LDAF Inspected" using the filters or, when you find a plant, make sure the "Type" is listed as "Wholesale Inspected."

If you want to sell your product directly to the consumer rather than through retailers, learn about direct marketing in the Custom exempt information section below.

Our programs

Meat inspection personnel enforce regulations for inspecting all livestock and poultry slaughtered and processed in state-inspected facilities. Inspectors also ensure that meat and poultry processing operations meet federal guidelines. The program reviews and approves all meat and poultry product labels to assure that accurate product information is supplied to the consumer.
The program’s Compliance Officers conduct surveillance and investigations of consumer complaints and suspected violations of the Meat and Poultry Inspection Law on products moving in commerce.
Our MPI program operates an accredited laboratory that analyzes meat and poultry product samples for accuracy in labeling and adulteration.
The program also offers a voluntary grading program for meat products using standards from the Agricultural Marketing Service, voluntary inspection on a fee basis and seafood inspection through the US Department of Commerce.

Options

Applying for inspection and exemptions

Step by step walkthroughs on getting permitted
Wholesale inspection information

Find the requirements for selling meat and poultry wholesale to stores, restaurants, and institutions
Custom exempt information

Have your animals processed under a custom exemption and what is required to open a custom exempt facility
Poultry exempt information

Find a local poultry processor and how to open a poultry exempt facility
Labeling information

Find out how to set up your inspected label and have it approved