Foreign meat to carry labels soon
US - New labels that consumers will see attached to meat, produce and peanuts beginning next fall could shed light on something many food producers would rather leave in the dark - the national origin of the food Americans buy.
3 September 2007
2 minute read
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A federal mandate now working its way through the regulation process requires all beef, lamb, pork, produce and peanuts to be labeled with what country the products were grown or produced in, starting in September 2008. Among the countries supplying Americans with meat are Uruguay, New Zealand and Mexico.
Such labeling has been required on seafood since September 2006. Poultry products are exempt from the labeling rule.
Originally proposed as part of the 2002 Farm Bill but killed by Congress before being revived last year, the requirement has sparked a heated debate between consumer groups and food safety advocates who support the measure and grocers and food producers who don't.
Consumer advocates say the labels will give grocery shoppers yet another piece of information to help them make food-buying decisions, especially in the wake of a summer full of foreign product recalls, including some foods.
