Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2001 03:25:08 -0600

Action Alert! Tell The Senate: We Need "Country of Origin" Food Labeling!

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Tell The Senate: We Need Country of Origin Food Labeling

Right now, consumers in the United States cannot distinguish between meat products, fruits and vegetables produced in the U.S. and those that are imported. One way to address this lack of information is mandatory "country of origin" labeling of meat products and fresh fruits and vegetables at the retail level. Such labeling would benefit both consumers and producers.

- Consumers have a right to know where their food is produced. Many consumers have concerns about safety, environmental, and labor practices in various countries, and would make country of origin a factor in their decisions about what to buy. Country of origin labeling gives consumers the ability to make more informed decisions about the foods they feed their families.

- Country of origin labeling protects the integrity of American farming by helping ranchers and farmers be more competitive. US farmers and ranchers are proud of their products and country of origin labeling is a valuable marketing tool that they can use to promote them.

- Without country of origin labeling, consumers could be mislead about where their meat comes from. All meat inspected in this country bears a USDA seal. Many people automatically assume that a USDA seal means the product is of U.S. origin. But not all meat processed here was grown here. In fact, in 2000, over 16 percent of the beef consumed in the US was imported.

Currently, a bill in the Senate (S. 280) calls for mandatory country of origin labeling for meat products and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Here's what you can do:

1. Urge your Senators to support legislation to require country of origin labeling for meat products and fresh fruits and vegetables. Be sure to emphasize that any label declaring a product as "Made in the U.S.A". or "Product of the U.S.A." must only be used for animals that are born, raised and slaughtered in the US, and for fresh produce that is grown and processed here. Another critical point is that the labeling be mandatory.

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Ph. (847) 678-5934 e-mail: allenew@juno.com

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