(Photo by Matt Mortenson, courtesy of USDA via ICD.)
DES MOINES, I.A. (KELO.com) – At least 1,000 organizations are calling on the Trump administration to impose country-of-origin labeling rules on imported beef. With cattle herds at a 75-year low in the U.S., the administration decided to import more lean beef trimmings to lower prices at the start of this month. Congress repealed country-of-origin labeling laws in 2015, which meant grocery stores were no longer required to state the countries where beef and pork cattle were born, raised and slaughtered. One major cause of the decision was the World Trade Organization’s declaration that the laws discriminated against Mexican and Canadian beef producers.
Berleen Wobeter, a central Iowa cattle producer and member of Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement, said given rumors of contaminated beef, it’s time for the U.S. to readopt country-of-origin labeling laws. “Anybody who’s paying attention is going to say, ‘Oh, I think I want my beef labeled. I want to know where my meat is coming from.’ And let’s face it, people just didn’t realize in the past that not everything was raised here in the U.S.” Wobeter pointed out.
Meat companies have the option to voluntarily provide country-of-origin labeling but there is no mandatory rule, as there is for fruits, vegetables, chicken and seafood. Wobeter contended country-of-origin labeling would also benefit Iowa farmers who, due to increasing costs and an uncertain federal tariff policy, are having a harder time convincing the next generation of would-be farmers to stay in the industry. She added older farmers are also having a hard time planning for the future.
“We just can’t trust this administration. I mean, we’re not in a position to want to increase. We’re older farmers, we’re on our way out. I would wait ’til this administration was gone before I would make any long-term decisions.” Wobeter urged.
Corporate meatpackers have argued tracking and separating foreign livestock would impose an economic burden on the industry.
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