Posted on 07/14/2007 7:25:17 PM PDT by JACKRUSSELL
Incidents of contaminated pet food, toothpaste and fish from China doubtless have made some American consumers want to know more about the origin of the nation's food supply.
But a federal law requiring beef, lamb, pork, produce and peanuts sold in grocery stores to carry labels indicating what country they came from will not be implemented until Oct. 1, 2008, a key congresswoman said this week.
"The situation with China has definitely strengthened our hand," said Rep. Mary Bono, R-Calif., who sponsored the original legislation in 2002. "It has highlighted the problems that exist. All consumers are asking for is the right to know. The Chinese problem became so big, it brought the issue to the forefront."
Bono, who has been working on the country-of-origin labeling law, known as COOL, since 1998, said there was some discussion this year about moving up the implementation date, but it was outweighed by concerns that an earlier date would work against it.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture still is working on the rules, she said. Florida has had a produce-only labeling law since 1979.
"I have always held up Florida as the example that it can be done, " Bono said. "Arguments made against us in Washington have been proven in Florida to not be true."
J. Luis Rodriguez, trade adviser for Lake Worth-based Florida Farmers Inc., said that if the Bush administration wants to expedite the rest of the national law, it could be done.
"I think the timing is right because of the China imports," he said. "This is a serious problem."
Mike Stuart, president of the Maitland-based Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, said two years ago that the organization reversed its position on mandatory country-of-origin labeling and began seeking a voluntary program because the issue was continuing to stall.
"We still think COOL is an important concept and is information consumers should have," Stuart said.
An effort this year to push up the date of the country-of-origin labeling law's implementation never went anywhere, said Liz Friedlander, spokeswoman for the National Farmers Union in Washington.
"These incidents are helping the cause," Friedlander said. "Consumers are becoming increasingly aware. They want to know where their food comes from."
A Consumers Union report this week found that 92 percent of consumers said they want imported food labeled with country of origin. The Yonkers, N.Y.-based nonprofit also called for the law to be implemented immediately.
Urvashi Rangan, a Consumers Union senior scientist, said it's important people know where food originates.
"We tell consumers to ask questions," Rangan said. "Origin labeling is one of the few ways that consumers can be empowered to tell the difference themselves."
Those who oppose the mandatory country-of-origin labeling law in its present form say it is costly, will require burdensome paperwork and is unnecessary. The opposition includes food manufacturing and retail groups such as the Food Marketing Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association-Food Products Association, the American Frozen Food Institute, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the American Meat Institute.
Janet Riley, spokeswoman for the Washington-based American Meat Institute, the nation's oldest and largest meat and poultry trade association, said the law's real intent is to keep imports out. The institute says COOL should be named "KOIL," for Keep Out Import Labels.
All meat and poultry products imported for direct sale to consumers and not further processed in a U.S. facility must be labeled with their country of origin, Riley said.
Under the new law, producers of calves, cattle, pigs and other livestock that enter the U.S. must list the nation where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered.
The law "requires a biography on the label," Riley said.
COOL is cool . The sooner the better .
It is not soon enough. How many will they kill in the mean time?
Thanks for posting.
How much cardboard are we expected to eat in the meantime?
Thats ok. I can wait. I simply wont eat a thing untill then.
As much as they can stuff into a yummy, fresh, steamy bun ...
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,289081,00.html
Let’s see...Bono started this legislation going in 1998. The law, passed in 2002 won’t go into effect until Oct. 2008. Does anything in this lousy, bloated government take less than 10 years? Just wait until a large number of US citizens is killed by Chinese products. Then we’ll see some FDA and USDA big wigs giving alibis on TV to cover their dereliction of duty.
It’s funny how the opponents call it “KOIL” . They are equating Truth in Labelling/Consumer Choice, with protectionism .
I thought the “Free Traders” were all about competition in the marketplace , funny how they feel they have to hide the Country of Origin to “compete” .
Americans will buy American when given a choice , especially when it comes to food products .
I know where all of my meat comes from - the hills of Nevada and Idaho. I’ve found a grocery store that carries produce from California. Now, if I just knew where my flour and pasta come from - oh, and my medicine.
“But a federal law requiring beef, lamb, pork, produce and peanuts sold in grocery stores to carry labels indicating what country they came from will not be implemented until Oct. 1, 2008, a key congresswoman said this week. “
And when Oct. 1, 2008 rolls around, our fine elected officials will push it to Oct. 1, 2010, and then 2012, etc.
Don’t these idiots eat the same food?
No one is stopping companies from labeling the origin of their food earlier than 2008, is there? who? why?
For several weeks Lou Dobbs has been documenting the Chinese export of toxic or contaminated ingredients in pet foods, toothpaste, and other products.
He rightly emphasizes that we can’t expect much more from the ChiComs.
But we should from our OWN government! In other words, it’s our own fault until we conduct a thorough reform of the vast and indifferent federal bureaucracy that could care less how many animals or humans die or become ill as a result of this scandalous situation.
Sure, let’s wait a year or two until legislation MAY be passed!!
Absolutely.
No one is stopping them. It’s a very small amount of extra ink on the labels and some good old honesty .
I wonder if the labels are even made here anymore ? They are probably made with poisonous Chinese ink ... lol !
LOL
Where are paper towels, paper cups, facial tissue, and toilet tissue made? I think those things are still made in the USA.
Let’s hope they continue to make them here. I’m sure that will change in due time, as it “will be cheaper and good for our enviroment” to import them from China .
I must admit that I was surprised to learn that basic staple commodities like wheat , were being imported from China . Who would have ever thought ?
I think there are both laws and regulations, depending on the "item".
Check out the old articles on "organic" labeling.
However, it will be a big hassle for importers, and for end using companies that buy from everybody.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a fast COOL implementation.
But take the current burger battle through advertising. MickieD's imports beef, according to Wendy's, iirc. What a nightmare for them to post, let alone list, the current source of beef, chicken, fish etc., for each store. It will be fun to watch from a marketing PoV, an IT PoV, a competition PoV, and so on.
And if they start selling only US beef, for instance, then people will be complaining about the price in the grocery stores.
What happens if a store still have half a case of beef patties from NZ, and the rest are Aussie origin at the beginning of the day? Will that DC administrative law judge sue the local burger joint for for taking down NZ sign with half a dozen patties still on the grill?
I can see their point, but our health, welfare, and peace of mind supercede their year end bonuses.
Florida tomatoes were among the first casualties of NAFTA. About 20 minutes after cheap tomatoes started rolling in from Mexico, Florida growers couldn't sell their produce.
Mexico is the place where travelers are warned not to eat fresh fruits or veggies if they don't want a case of tourista. And suddenly Mexican produce is safe to eat? I was very sick for three months after a trip to the Acapulco Princess, an exclusive hotel where they claimed to have their own safe water supply, safe ice, safe veggies and fruits. They also had a zip-through clinic where tourista sufferers were treated in a hurry. Do you think America can grow its own food?
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