AskUSDA (2024)

FAQs

What is ask usda? ›

​​​ AskUSDA is a contact center that answers general inquiries from the public using trained agents and self-service options. To date, AskUSDA has partnered with 19 agencies to improve the customer experience offered to the public.

The guidance resource, askFSIS, is a Web-based computer application, designed to respond to technical and policy-related questions from FSIS inspectors, industry, consumers, other stakeholders, and the public.

Answer to Question 1: FSIS generally considers the sampled lot for RTE products to be the product produced from “clean-up to clean-up,” unless the establishment has a different supportable definition of the lot (e.g., products that are produced on different lines and that are microbiologically distinct from one another ...

While response to the Census of Agriculture is required by law, USDA will not fine a producer who does not return their ag census form.

USDA conducts and supports science that informs decisions and policies contributing to a safe food supply and the reduction of foodborne hazards.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), is the public health regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that United States' commercial supply of meat, poultry, and egg products is safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled and packaged.

FSIS ensures food safety through the authorities of the Federal Meat Inspection Act, the Poultry Products Inspection Act, and the Egg Products Inspection Act, as well as humane animal handling through the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.

FDA, through its Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), regulates foods other than the meat, poultry, and egg products regulated by FSIS. FDA is also responsible for the safety of drugs, medical devices, biologics, animal feed and drugs, cosmetics, and radiation emitting devices.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service

FSIS protects the public's health by preventing illness from meat, poultry, and egg products. We do this by ensuring these products are safe, wholesome, and properly labeled.

What is the point of USDA? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) mission is to provide leadership on food, agriculture, natural resources, and related issues based on sound public policy, the best available science, and efficient management.

USDA Rural Development's Section 502 Direct Loan Program provides a path to homeownership for low- and very-low-income families living in rural areas, and families who truly have no other way to make affordable homeownership a reality.

The primary difference between USDA direct loans and USDA guaranteed loans is who funds the actual loan. With the USDA direct loan, the USDA acts as the lender. Conversely, with the guaranteed loan program, private lenders fund the loan while the USDA backs each loan against default.

The USDA is responsible for overseeing farming, ranching, and forestry industries, as well as regulating aspects of food quality and safety and nutrition labeling. The USDA is further tasked with administering several social welfare programs including free school lunches and food stamps.