Host posted on November 25, 2008 17:15
Country of Origin Labeling (called COOL) requires all food retailers to provide labels for fresh foods, including meats and produce.
The labels will tell consumers which countries their food came from. Included in the list are beef, lamb, pork, chicken, fish and shellfish, plus fresh fruits and vegetables, peanuts, macadamia nuts and pecans. The labels, for marketing purposes and information, are not a food safety measure. All food safety measures currently in place will continue.
Items that are excluded from COOL include processed food and any commodities combined with at least one other food component. This includes foods which are cooked, cured, smoked, fabricated, sauce- or coating-added.
The law took effect at the end of September 2008, and labels should begin appearing over the next few months.
Click here to read the USDA consumer guide to COOL