When you go to the store and buy beef, do you want to know what country it came from?
Several U.S. senators who have a beef with the way beef is labeled say most American consumers do want to know the country of origin when they buy a food product, including beef. It used to be that the labels indicated where the beef came from, but new rules implemented then you’ll be glad to know about the American Beef Labeling Act, a bipartisan bill that would reinstate country of origin on the label.
Currently the labeling system, in accordance with World Trade Organization guidelines, allows beef to be labeled as a USA product even if it wasn’t born or raised in the U.S. — the only thing that counts is where the final processing was done.
Senators sponsoring the labeling act say that it’s deceiving to consumers, who think the USA label means from birth to finishing.
“Americans should know exactly where their beef is coming from, but current USDA labeling practices allow big meatpacking companies to falsely label imported beef as being a product of the USA,” said Cory Booker, D-NJ. “I’m proud to join colleagues in this bipartisan legislation that will restore mandatory country of origin labeling for all-beef products and provide fairness for our family farmers and ranchers.”
SOURCE: Food Safety News September 10, 2021