"No. 1, there's a basic consumer right to know," said Michael Hansen, senior scientist at Consumers Union, an advocacy group that publishes Consumer Reports magazine and supports the labeling law. "People are more and more concerned about the food they eat."Both sides make interesting arguments:But the labeling law has formidable foes, including the meat lobby, which so far has outmaneuvered its opponents on Capitol Hill. In the years since the labeling law was enacted as part of the 2002 Farm Bill, its opponents have successfully blocked all but seafood labeling from taking effect.
The consumer, upon seeing the U.S.D.A. label, would naturally presume that it's a U.S. product," said Bill Bullard, chief executive of the Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal fund, United Stockgrowers of America, an organization of cattle ranchers better known as R-Calf. He said the effect for meatpackers was that "they are able to bring in a cheaper product and sell it under the reputation of the U.S. cattle industry."Ultimately, they're all guessing what you'll do when you see the label. Will you pay more for American food? Do you care?Opponents of origin labeling say the measure is simply protectionism, aided by false claims about imported products. American meatpackers may stop buying imported cattle altogether given the costs of segregating and keeping track of such products.
They also say it would be difficult and expensive to label ground meat like hamburger, since it often includes meat from different cows.
"They talk about how the quality is better in the United States," said Mark D. Dopp, senior vice president for regulator affairs and general counsel for the American Meat Institute, a trade group. "The standards are all the same. For these people to talk about how all this inferior product is coming in, it's just nonsense."
Labels Lack Food's Origin Despite Law [NYT]
(Photo: stirwise)
Mistake #1 ... relying on the NY Times.
"... despite a 5 year old law that says they should."
So, if I understand this right, the law says meat "should" be labelled, not that it "shall" be labelled, right?
So, nobody is violating the law ... right?
"But the labeling law has formidable foes, including the meat lobby, which so far has outmaneuvered its opponents on Capitol Hill."
So, if that's correct, then what that means is that those who wish to see country-of-origin labelling have failed to make their case to lawmakers. Right?
Nothing to see here folks ... except Democracy in action.
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I'm still amazed that China exports food. I remember when they had famines and had to import a chunk of their food! Free enterprise...
Also, what's to say that a product is labelled from one country but various components from which it's made aren't from somewhere else?
]]>Yes, people are concerned, so if they knew this food was from china they woudln't buy it! PLEASE GOVERNMENT, DON'T MAKE US ADDRESS PEOPLE'S CONCERNS!
"They also say it would be difficult and expensive to label ground meat like hamburger, since it often includes meat from different cows."
Bullshit. Lies. LYING BULLSHIT.
If orange juice companies can do it, the beef industry can do it. ("contains concentrate from the United States and/or Brazil" I only buy it if I know it's from the US, because that's the one fruit where the US is just completely and utterly superior.)
]]>Yeah, I'd pay more for American-produced foods -- not necessarily because I think they are inherently better, but because I am a diehard supporter of American manufacturing and agriculture. Why support some other country's farmers when I could support my neighbors instead? The whole "world economy" is great if I want to get something unique from a foreign country, but not if I want something that I can get from a guy down the street.
]]>All of this questionable origin or domestic tainted food over the last year drastically changed how we buy our food.
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The standards are all the same. For these people to talk about how all this inferior product is coming in, it's just nonsense.
interesting. so the american meat is just as poisonous. i'll have to remember that.
]]>Is it just me, or does Canadian beef sound more appealing? I certainly would not be less inclined to buy Canadian (Im sure people in cattle farming states feel differently)
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