07/05/07 Hot Topic

Some issues can really be hot potatoes within an industry. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be right back to tell you about one. Country of Origin Labeling or COOL is not so much of a hot potato to the beef industry, but more like a mouthful of hot beef and all the segments if the industry can't decide whether to swallow it or spit it out. The American Meat Institute which represents the beef packing segment of the industry is definitely against COOL for reasons that run from fear of consumer resistance to imported beef used in some products to cost of labeling packages that do contain imported beef. The USDA seems to lean toward opposition of mandatory COOL, as do some producers while the National Cattlemen's Beef Association is doing a pretty good job of riding the fence by finding fault with the law, if implemented, but also saying it would work to minimize costs to producers. R-CALF-USA is definitely a proponent of mandatory country of origin labeling along with another segment of producers. This group maintains imported beef is already labeled; beef packers just don't want to pass the information on to consumers. They say costs shouldn't be an issue since American beef wouldn't need a label just the USDA stamp that is already used while imported beef could be labeled USDA inspected but with country of origin. Personally, I think the debate would end if and when consumers let their wishes be known to their legislators. I'm Jeff Keane. Western Livestock Reporter 6/20/07