Senators voted yesterday to confirm four Trump administration nominees responsible for overseeing key agriculture programs and negotiations. The picks were confirmed in a 53-43 vote on a batch of more than 90 nominees spanning several federal agencies. Senate Republicans changed the chamber’s rules earlier this year to allow for block votes on certain nominees. Dr. Mindy Brashears was confirmed to serve as USDA Under Secretary for Food Safety, returning to a role she held during President Trump’s first term. Senators also approved Dr. Julie Callahan to serve as the Office of the United States Trade Representative’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recently announced an update to its guidelines for label approval that focuses on clarifying the requirements for voluntary U.S.-origin label claims on FSIS-regulated products. The agency summarized the revisions to the recently updated label approval guidelines in a regulatory notice.
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Updated research, supported by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (USPOULTRY) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was released this week quantifying the U.S. poultry industry’s on-farm antibiotic use. The updated report shows continued improved antibiotic stewardship and commitment to disease prevention within poultry production. As part of its commitment to a transparent and sustainable food supply, the poultry industry works to balance the responsible use of antibiotics considered “medically important” to human health with the need to maintain healthy poultry flocks.
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A University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign research team has received a $1 million grant from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to participate in a retail surveillance program that monitors meat products for resistant bacteria. This project supports the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) by expanding retail food antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in Illinois.
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Consumer loyalty and rewards app Fetch is releasing its first full-year Fetch Finds Report, revealing the unexpected ways Americans shopped and dined in 2025. Despite rising grocery costs, Americans brought meat back to the menu. Fresh beef (+13%), chicken (+12%) and pork (+12%) sales rose, while refrigerated plant-based alternatives (-11%) fell, signaling that the meatless movement lost some of its sizzle in 2025.
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The staff at NCC wishes you and your families a very Merry Christmas, the Happiest of Holidays and a Blessed New Year. The NCC Washington Report will resume on January 9, 2026.
