Americans simply love meat. The United States has one of the world's highest meat consumption per capita, and trends in consumption habits won't change anytime soon. From beef to pork or poultry, the domestic meat processing industry is constantly growing, and meat processing plants need to come up with ingenious marketing methods to differentiate themselves from the competition. High-quality meat packaging labels are necessary for meat-processing factories that want to market their selections of premium cuts efficiently yet cost-effectively.

In our country, meat labels are well-regulated and provide consumers with all the information they need before making a purchase decision. In addition, the United States is recognized as having some of the best and most varied meat choices available to the general public. But you're most likely the owner of a tiny butcher shop owner interested in knowing why you should invest in premium meat labels. So, in the following article, we will discuss how calling in label design professionals can help your business and highlight the hallmarks of excellent label design.

What Should Always Be Present on a Meat Label?

Meat consumption in the United States has doubled in the last century. With this increase in demand, the number of butcher shops or meat processing plants has also expanded significantly. Competition has led to better prices for buyers and an increase in the final quality of the products. And today, it is possible to find in our local supermarket both affordable meat suitable for any use, as well as organic options, for which the animals were raised outdoors. And with this increase in the number of available options, there was a need for strict regulation of the information presented on meat labels. In the United States, these are overseen by the Food Safety and Inspection Service, and the information required is detailed and straightforward.

Meat sold in the United States must bear the distributor's name, nutritional information, and a concise indication of the offered species. Meat packaging labels must contain the product processing date, an expiration day, the net quantity of meat, and recommendations for preparing the product. Lastly, the label must display a handling panel, an ingredient list, and an inspection legend. And all these elements must be visible on the main label page of the product. The guidelines are pretty detailed and can be challenging to follow if you are not experienced in label manufacturing. Therefore, hiring a specialized company to handle your meat label design could be an excellent idea.

What Are the Hallmarks of a Good Meat Label?

Premium meat labels must cope with harsh conditions that require unique materials. Meat can be kept in the fridge or freezer, and labels will always be stored in high humidity and low temperatures. Quality meat packaging labels must present all the nutritional values of the product in a clear way; they must display a minimalist design that attracts the attention of consumers without omitting elements required by FSIS, the ink used must be resistant to harsh conditions and not come out of the film when the product is sold, and last but not least, the adhesive used must retain its properties even at temperatures below freezing.

Regarding the overall packaging design, your creativity must be combined with the practicality of the information provided. However, as a general rule, your company logo should be in the foreground, the presented texts should be written in an easy-to-understand font, and if you decide to use images, they should be high-resolution. Moreover, the label should be colored so your target audience can easily distinguish the product.

Why Use the Services of Professionals?

Although it is possible to design meat packaging labels independently, this is not recommended as the regulations you must follow are complex, and any potential error could devastate your finances. Calling on a company with expertise in label design can ensure that your products will always comply with FSIS regulations. Furthermore, the services of a professional company can supplement your creativity. Do you envision the overall image of your brand but don't know precisely how it could be combined with the informational facts needed on a meat label? Then calling on a professional company could be a solution.

A label manufacturing company could handle the necessary label creation process from A to Z. Such a company could work with your team to find a label design that fits your general brand image, will choose the appropriate film and adhesives for the required application, and lastly, will provide you with ideas thanks to their experience in the field. For example, the label could contain a QR code that sends consumers to a web page displaying more detailed information about your company. Calling on a team specializing in label manufacturing can also make economic sense, as in-house designs can be expensive and take up valuable time. Outsourcing your label needs to a third party can relieve your worries, and their production could be scaled up according to your needs.

Gain an Advantage Over Competitors

Why should you use the services of a company specializing in meat packaging labels? One word: Expertise. A professional company with experience in this field could create a design that illustrates your brand values. And the final design will be 100% in tune with the regulations imposed by the American government. Since packaging design is one of the most critical aspects that shoppers consider when making a purchase, the costs associated with the services of a label design company will pay for themselves, with high-quality labels having the potential to increase your sales, which will translate into a positive ROI.

But let's say you're going through a rough patch or you are unhappy with some of your employees. A company specializing in label design could scale up its services in line with your company's growth or decline prospects. In-house design involves hiring a separate department that is always in tune with the latest regulatory changes mandated by FSIS or USDA. These employees will need special training, and their costs will be high, especially if you are a start-up company. However, collaboration with a label design firm can be stopped anytime, and its services can be tailored precisely to meet your needs.