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Country of Origin Labeling of foods became law
as part of the 2002 Farm Bill. That law mandates labeling beef,
pork, and lamb; fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; fish and
shellfish; and peanuts. The label would be found on foods sold
in grocery stores and would state the foods’ country of origin.
Supermarkets and grocery stores will be required to provide the
country of origin information of covered commodities on a label,
stamp, mark, placard or other clear and visible sign.
This kind of labeling could benefit consumers,
giving them the ability to make an informed choice and the opportunity
to buy food produced here in the United States. It would benefit
producers, giving them the opportunity to differentiate their crops
and livestock as products of the United States.
However, since the passage of the 2002 Farm Bill,
the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and corporate agribusiness
have been trying to delay and ultimately kill Country of Origin
Labeling. Despite practical suggestions from farmers and ranchers
for streamlining the Country of Origin Labeling process, the USDA,
instead, has been taking its lead from corporate agribusinesses,
which actually benefit financially when you do not know where your
food is produced.
Now, these same agribusinesses are promoting replacing
the mandatory country of origin labeling, already passed by Congress,
with a voluntary program. Consumers and producers need mandatory
labeling of their food, not a voluntary program left to the discretion
of multi-national food monopolies.
For more information about the need for mandatory
versus voluntary labeling read:
Separating Fiction from Truth: How the Voluntary
COOL Bill will Impact the U.S. Cattle Industry Prepared
by R-CALF USA and
Eating Blind: Why Congress and the Meat Industry
Don’t Want You to Know Where Your Food Comes
From Prepared by Public Citizen.
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