Ag groups unhappy with food labeling implementation

Agricultural organizations expressed their displeasure today with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of a new food labeling law.

The National Farmers Union, the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association and R-CALF USA joined together to voice their concerns about the USDA’s interpretation of the new Country of Origin Labeling provision that was passed in the new farm bill earlier this year. The groups urged the USDA to immediately re-interpret the provision.

Country of origin labeling (COOL) is scheduled to go into effect on Oct. 1 this year.

According to a press release from the National Farmers Union, the organization is concerned that “large meat processors intend to circumvent both the intent and letter of the labeling law.”

NFU president Tom Buis stated in the press release that the law clearly states that products from livestock that are born, raised and slaughtered in the U.S. are to be labeled as a product of the United States. But despite the clear language in the law, USDA’s rules will allow meatpackers to label exclusively American products with those from other countries, said Buis.

This might make the labels less meaningful to American consumers.

“USDA has created a loophole big enough to drive a truck through, violating the spirit, letter and intent of the law and deceiving consumers who have consistently shown support for buying U.S. products,” Buis said. “This is about truth in labeling.”

The COOL law will create four labeling categories:

• Products exclusively born, raised and processed in the United States would be labeled as a U.S. product;
• Products from animals that were not exclusively born, raised and processed in the United States and not imported for immediate slaughter be labeled with all countries in which the animal may have been born, raised or processed;
• An animal that was imported for immediate processing may be labeled as a product of the importing country and the United States; and
• Animals that were born, raised and processed in a foreign country will be labeled as a product of the country of origin.

The labeling law was first passed in the 2002 Farm Bill, but was never implemented by USDA. Buis said both producers and consumers have waited far too long for COOL to become a reality.