It’s Time to Enforce Country of Origin Labeling Laws
Concerns over long distance food transportation (food miles) and global warming, compounded by recent food poisoning scandals, linked to contaminated pet, poultry, and pig food ingredients from China, have taken away many Americans’ appetites for cheap imported foods. Shocked at media reports that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is inspecting approximately one percent of all imported food, health-minded consumers are demanding that Congress implement mandatory Country of Origin Labels (COOL) labels on food.
Not holding their breath for Congress to act, millions are turning to certified organic food products, both for their family and their household pets. Federal farm policy theoretically requires Country of Origin Labeling for food. Acknowledging polls that indicate that 80% of American consumers want to know where their food is coming from, COOL was incorporated into the 2002 Farm Bill and was to go into effect in September 2004.
Unfortunately, corporate agribusiness, Wal-Mart, and the supermarket chains bribed an ethicaly-impaired Congress with millions of dollars to block implementation of COOL labels. As a result, Americans are buying billions of dollars of imported foods without knowing it, while cheap, bogus “USDA Organic” food from China is starting to appear on the shelves of Wal-Mart and other Big Box chains.
Fortunately, in lat July of 2007, the House Agriculture Committee signed off on their final draft of the 2007 Farm Bill. One of the “last minute” success stories of the legislation was the panel’s agreement to include the requirement that the Country of Origin Labeling law (COOL) be implemented by next year. A special thanks goes out to all of you who have taken part in OCA’s COOL alerts. The law will allow consumers to determine where in the world various grocery store meats come from. This is particularly important in supporting domestic farmers. The text of the Farm Bill will continue to be altered as it now moves on to full Congressional review, so please contact your Representative to let them know you support COOL.
In order to promote health and sustainability, and to save North American family farms, we need to restore our right to know where our food is coming from. Tell Congress to support Country of Origin labels in the 2007 Farm Bill. Click link below to tell congress…
www.organicconsumers.org