Country of Origin Labeling on Food

COOL Requirement in Effect for Certain Meats, Produce and Nuts

Oct 6, 2008

Soon consumers will see new labels on certain foods they buy from retail grocery stores and supermarkets. What are these new labels and what do they mean?

Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) is legislation that was passed by Congress in 2002; however, due to pressure from grocery stores and large meatpackers, this law did not go into effect until September 30, 2008. The COOL regulation requires retail supermarkets and grocery stores to inform consumers of the country in which certain foods originate, including foods from the United States. Since 2004 until now, only labeling of wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish has been required. Foods packaged before September 30, 2008 do not have to be labeled and retailers have six months to comply with the law.

Foods that Must Carry Country of Origin Labeling

Since retailers have six months from effective date to comply with COOL law, it may take a few months before consumers will see the following foods with a country of origin label:

How Foods are Required to be Labeled

Retailers can place origin labeling anywhere on the food where the label will be visible, including directly on fresh produce or the plastic wrap on meats, poultry and fish. If a food isn't sold in packaging, retailers must post a sign near where the food is sold or provide some sort of documentation to consumers that lists the country of origin.

Country of Origin Labeling Exemptions

Country of Origin Labeling is not required by butcher shops or fish markets or by establishments which do not purchase $230,000 or more in fresh and frozen produce per year. Also, processed foods are exempt. So if a food is cooked, grilled, fried, steamed, roasted, cured, baked, breaded, dried, marinated or processed in such a way that it changes the original form, it requires no label. For example, raw pork chops require a label, but bacon, ham or flavored pork loin do not. A fruit cup containing melons, pineapples and strawberries does not require a label; however, if a frozen vegetable medley is packaged in the U.S., contains vegetables both from the U.S. and another country, those types of food requires a label.

How Country of Origin Labeling Aids Consumers

With country of origin labels, consumers can avoid foods that come from countries which are experiencing safety issues such as salmonella outbreaks. Also, it provides information to those consumers who wish to buy locally grown food or foods grown in a specific country.

The copyright of the article Country of Origin Labeling on Food in Food Facts is owned by Jennifer Murray. Permission to republish Country of Origin Labeling on Food in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.