09/03/2026
Farmers selling uninspected meat directly to consumers is a proposal that’s been in the news a lot lately. But what does that actually mean?
Well, in the meat industry, that level of oversight is what we call “custom exempt.” There is already a legal provision for that: the rule is just that the meat must be for personal use and can’t be resold.
At Lake Geneva Country Meats, we’re inspected by the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service. If you look closely at our packages, you’ll find our USDA inspection legend showing that Est. 5648 produced your meat under their watchful eyes.
Here’s a quick breakdown of what each level of meat inspection actually means:
USDA Inspection: This is the highest level of federal oversight. A government inspector is on-site every single day we are processing, examining the meat to ensure it is safe and wholesome. Because of this rigorous standard, USDA-inspected meat can be sold anywhere across state lines.
State Inspection: These facilities have regular inspections and must meet standards “at least equal to” the USDA. However, the meat processed here can only be sold within that specific state.
Retail Exemption: This covers your typical grocery stores and restaurants that cut meat in-house. They aren’t slaughtering animals; they are cutting meat that was already inspected. They are checked periodically by local or state health departments, not daily.
Custom Exempt: This is what the news is talking about. A consumer buys a share of a live animal, and the butcher processes it for their personal use. The facility is checked for basic sanitation periodically, but there is no continuous government inspector looking at the meat. The meat cannot be resold or otherwise enter the stream of commerce.
There’s a spot for each inspection level in our food system, but we are proud to be part of the high standards of USDA FSIS inspection. They are a professional group of people who take pride in ensuring safe meat reaches the American consumer’s table.
Now that you know a bit more about the process, you can choose what’s important to you next time you buy meat!
