Mar 16 2009

COOL takes effect today, supposedly

The long awaited and much postponed Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) finally takes effect today, despite massive efforts by the beef industry to make it go away.  It is interesting to see what meat producer groups object to:  too expensive, too difficult, it’s really just another trade barrier, and – my favorite – consumers don’t care where their meat comes from.  As of today, COOL is law.  Will anyone pay attention?  Or will the law be as widely ignored by meat sellers as it is for fish sellers?  But don’t you care where your food is produced?  I do.

8 comments
Share |
Tags:

Comments

Of course I care! I’m surprised that the US doesn’t have such a law in place already. I know you don’t have GM labelling but this is basic!

  • Jon
  • March 16, 2009
  • 4:06 pm

Of course labeling’s expensive! After all this time fighting COOL, the meat producers didn’t have enough money left for a printer.

Seriously, though, I guess it’s the knee-jerk reaction to things like The Jungle. The obvious solution is to convince people the problem doesn’t exist.

  • Su
  • March 16, 2009
  • 4:25 pm

Hi. Just wondering what statistics you found to show that the seafood industry had ignored the rule.

Marion Nestle
  • Marion
  • March 16, 2009
  • 7:39 pm

@Su–no statistics, just personal experience at stores selling fish. I discussed this in What to Eat and I don’t see that the situation has changed much since then.

I’m looking forward to seeing these labels for sure!

I wonder if “perishable agricultural commodities” means pine nuts as well. The USDA page mentions pecans and macadamia nuts, but nothing else. It would be great if COOL applied to all nuts because a lot of people seem to have a bad experiences with pine nuts from China. See http://babyccinoblog.com/?p=2474 . Have you (or anyone else) heard of this phenomenon?

  • Lisa
  • April 4, 2009
  • 1:02 pm

At a local grocery store I noticed bright yellow stickers on all the packages of beef. “product of canada, mexico, or united states” Helpful, no?

Dear sir,

Good day

I am Mrs JELILAT HAMED a philipinian by nationality, a widow, my husband was a director with an oil company we are based in abidjan.Recently his plane got crashed into the sea and he died at the sea.The company has paid me his gratuity and also i was able to make some money myself from another company as a consultant on the environmental activities building schools, hospitals, and maternities.

The total amount is about US§ (9 000 000) Nine Million Dollars, i want to carry it out through diplomatic baggage but i have to get in touch with someone in your country.I believe you can assist me by accepting to receive the money with you in your country since i’m not on business trip to your country, i can not carry much money on me, it’s suspicious especially as a foreigner in the country where i live, the law here does not permit me to do transaction of such huge amount of money, so that’s why i’m appealing to you to assist me by receiving the money on my behalf in your country.I intend to send my childern to school with part of the money.

I promise to give you 15% of the total amount once the money gets to your country.I would like you to know that my entire life depends on this money and also i want you to advice me on investment opportunities in your country in which you would be a partner.

Moreover, i would like this to be a top secret between both of us.

Thank and best regards.

Mrs JELILAT HAMED

Leave a comment