Looking for beef from Brazil? Fruit from France? Veggies from the Virgin Islands? Beginning today, March 16, 2009, the labeling on those and other foods must make it easier for you to find out where what you are putting in your mouth came from. The new U.S. Department of Agriculture rules for County of Origin Labels (COOL) now require a listing of where most meats and some fruits, vegetables, and other foods was raised or grown. The idea is to give consumers more information to decide what they are buying and identify food that is imported from outside the United States. Such labeling has long been sought by consumer rights activists and U.S. ranchers, who compete with cattle producers in Canada and other countries. The more detailed labeling was approved last year, but did not become mandatory until this week. Most fresh meats, including steaks, ground beef, lamb, and pork chops, and fresh chicken products that are sold in retail stores, and some perishable fruits and vegetables must begin using the more detailed labeling. Farm-raised fish and shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities such as fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, macadamia nuts, pecans, ginseng, and unroasted peanuts also are covered by the new labeling regulations...attorneyatlaw
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Country of Origin Labeling Goes Into Effect Today
Looking for beef from Brazil? Fruit from France? Veggies from the Virgin Islands? Beginning today, March 16, 2009, the labeling on those and other foods must make it easier for you to find out where what you are putting in your mouth came from. The new U.S. Department of Agriculture rules for County of Origin Labels (COOL) now require a listing of where most meats and some fruits, vegetables, and other foods was raised or grown. The idea is to give consumers more information to decide what they are buying and identify food that is imported from outside the United States. Such labeling has long been sought by consumer rights activists and U.S. ranchers, who compete with cattle producers in Canada and other countries. The more detailed labeling was approved last year, but did not become mandatory until this week. Most fresh meats, including steaks, ground beef, lamb, and pork chops, and fresh chicken products that are sold in retail stores, and some perishable fruits and vegetables must begin using the more detailed labeling. Farm-raised fish and shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities such as fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, macadamia nuts, pecans, ginseng, and unroasted peanuts also are covered by the new labeling regulations...attorneyatlaw
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1 comment:
Lets not stop with country labeling, lets get COUNTY labeling as well. Hell, township labeling. Keep beef from anti-bison, anti-grizzly, anti-wolf, overgrazed public land ranches off my plate.
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