Public Radio Commentary

By Sandy Courtnage

August 26, 2008

COOL Times are Coming

A long-time Farmers Union priority soon will become a reality.  I’m talking about country-of-origin labeling, a measure included in the 2008 Farm Bill that is scheduled to take effect the end of September.

Country-of-origin labeling – or COOL as it has come to be called – requires retailers to label the source of many foods, including beef, chicken, and produce. 

Right now the U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed rules outlining how they want the law to be implemented.  In our opinion, there is room for improvement as well as some welcome changes to look forward to at the grocery store.

First, ground meat must be labeled by its country of origin, with all possible countries listed.  The law specifically states that the multiple country label can only be used for meat that is NOT exclusively born, raised and slaughtered in the United States.  However, the USDA regulations currently do not contain this instruction.  We believe this wording may allow packers to list meat that was exclusively born, raised and processed in the United States to be lumped together with other product and labeled as a product of the U.S., Country X and Country Y.  This provision is not as beneficial to U.S. ranchers as we would like.  By writing the rule this way, the production chain can continue processing meat without separation by country of origin.  USDA says the rule is written this way to be the least restrictive to business, but we hope that some meat processors, at least, will see the benefit to them and to consumers of offering the exclusive “product of the United States” label. 

One good element is that the rule doesn’t preempt state laws on foods not covered under this law, so Montana grown and raised food can be labeled as such.

We do agree with many consumer groups and food safety advocates, as well as some in Congress, that the processed food rules as written are too broad.  In the proposed rule, covered foods do not need labels if they are part of a processed food item or combined with at least one other covered food.  Processed food is defined as a retail item that has undergone specific processing, such as cooking, curing or smoking, that causes a “change in the character of the” covered food.

Agriculture Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro recently explained it this way, “Under the proposed rule, if peas are frozen and bagged, they are covered and to be labeled.  If carrots are frozen and bagged, they too are to be labeled.  However, if you put the peas and carrots in the same bag, they’re not covered and will not be labeled.”

In addition, it is expected that 95 percent of peanuts will not be labeled under this rule because USDA considers “roasted” peanuts to be a processed food item.

These, indeed, are odd results, and illustrate the sometimes-tortured logic behind the rules making process. 

Not everyone is encouraged.  It has been reported in the news this month that Congressman Stupak, from Michigan, is working on legislation that may contain a processed food labeling provision, as part of an overhaul of the Food and Drug Administration.

We encourage all interested persons to weigh in at this important stage of the process, and tell USDA what you like about the rules as well as where the implementation measures can be improved.  Comments should be addressed to the USDA COOL Program.  Specific docket number and other references are available on the USDA web site.

For months food safety concerns have dominated the headlines emphasizing the need for us to know where our food comes from.  COOL brings us closer to that goal, and also provides farmers and ranchers a Made in the USA marketing opportunity.  These all are positive steps.

For the Montana Farmers Union, I’m Sandy Courtnage.  Thanks for listening.

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