In response to consumer concerns, the U.S. Congress passed legislation in 2002 requiring retailers to notify consumers of the country-of-origin of beef, pork, lamb, peanuts, seafood, and fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables. To date, country of origin labeling (COOL) has been implemented only for seafood.
Meat packers, processors and some retailers have lobbied the U.S. Congress successfully to stall implementation of COOL labeling, despite popular support among the American public.
Consumer surveys repeatedly demonstrate overwhelming support for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for meat and other foods.
A poll conducted in June 2005 by Public Citizen found 85 percent of respondents wanted COOL; 74 percent supported mandatory labeling; and 55 percent had "little or not much trust" in the meat, seafood, produce and grocery industries to voluntarily provide country-of-origin information.
Another poll conducted in January 2004 by the National Farmers Union found 82 percent of respondents believed food should be labeled with country-of-origin information; 85 percent stated they would be more inclined to buy food produced in the United States; and 81 percent said they would be willing to pay a few cents more for food products grown and/or raised in the U.S. and identified as such.
