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Action Needed! Help save
Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) from being derailed!
What is
Country of Origin Labeling?
In 2002, Congress adopted a new law mandating that fresh meat, fish
and produce be labeled by country of origin in grocery stores beginning
in September 2004.
Why is
Country of Origin Labeling important?
Overwhelmingly, consumers want to know where their food comes from.
Country of Origin Labeling helps consumers make an informed choice
and is the only way they can be certain of buying quality food products
from the country of their choice. It also gives farmers a tool for
educating consumers about the importance of keeping U. S. family
farmers on the land.
What is
happening now?
Unfortunately, USDA, the giant meatpackers and commodity groups
have tried to derail the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling
by saying that the law will cost family farmers and the government
billions of dollars.
In reality,
Country of Origin Labeling costs virtually nothing. According to
the Florida Department of Agriculture, a state where country of
origin labeling for produce has been law for more than 20 years,
it costs supermarkets only 1 or 2 man-hours per store a week - that's
far less than one cent per household per week. Current federal rules
for producers and shippers cover most of any additional effort.
The truth
is, COOL would make it harder for the big importers to manipulate
the marketplace with cheap foreign imports. COOL is one way
to help keep markets open and fair here at home.
Tyson/IBP, Cargill, Smithfield, National
Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Pork Producers Council,
the American Meat Institute and others have joined forces to stop
COOL in its tracks.
Now it’s up to us:
- Do we want to allow corporate agribusiness
to derail our rights to know where our food comes from? No!
- Do we want to let USDA and the meatpackers
take away another victory for family farmers? No!
1) Call
your Senators and Representatives today at 202-224-3121 and
tell them to support immediate implementation of mandatory Country
of Origin Labeling.
2) Join
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and be a part
of our campaign to protect the rights of consumers and support family
farm agriculture. |
