December 2025

Welcome to December's Label Alert! In this month's headlines, "patchwork-y" state food regulations cause complications for companies doing business nationally, Tyson is closing a major U.S. beef processing plant, AMS seeks comment on updating rice and orange juice standards, and more.

And this month we're offering Early Bird savings on registration to the 2026 Food Labeling Conference.

Now, get caught up on the latest industry news from Label Alert.

The growing patchwork of state food + consumer product regulation

State governments have entered an era of aggressive, uncoordinated rulemaking across the food, beverage, personal care, and packaging sectors. Businesses selling nationally can no longer assume consistency across jurisdictions; instead, they must navigate a regulatory landscape that is increasingly "patchwork-y," often contradictory, and operationally burdensome.  

Read on...

Tyson to shutter major beef plant in Nebraska amid US cattle shortage

Tyson Foods is closing its meatpacking facility in Lexington, Nebraska—one of its largest beef processing plants—and laying off more than 3,200 workers as U.S. cattle shortages pressure operations for major meatpackers. Tyson is making cuts as U.S. cattle herds are at a 75-year low, according to the USDA, with many ranchers hesitant to rebuild after years of climate challenges and tough economics.

Read on...

USDA's AMS proposes updates to U.S. standards for rice and orange juice

USDA's AMS is seeking public comment on whether U.S. standards for certain types of rice should be updated. AMS also issued an interim final notice for comments on changes made to U.S. standards for grades of pasteurized orange juice.

Rice: Notice; request for comments

Orange juice: Interim final notice

Non-GMO Project releases “Non-UPF Verified" standard

The Non-GMO Project released its “Non-UPF Verified" standard [in November]. The standard, which attempts to define so-called "ultra-processed foods" (UPF), prohibits the use of any ingredient found in "Annex B – Harmonized Prohibited Ingredients List," which it indicates reflects a "selected collection of prohibited ingredients from quality standards and government regulations." The standard also divides food processing methods into prohibited, conditional, and permissible categories.

Read on...

Trump removes coffee, beef, cocoa from tariff list

Consumer Brands Association urges further tariff rollbacks on products like palm oil and tin mill steel. 

Read on...

Congress appears unwilling to stop state ingredient bans in blow to food industry

Congressional lawmakers declined to crack down on the proliferation of state bans on additives and dyes in a closely-watched bill introduced [in November], marking a fresh setback for the food industry.

Read on...