American consumers are staying informed with the COOL program used now in larger grocery stores. The Country of Origin Labeling law mandates that all fresh meat, seafood and produce carry a label bearing the name of the country where the food was grown. Certain nuts also come under the law and so does ginseng. How does the COOL program benefit farmers and food processing plants? How does COOL protect consumers and aid the health department?
American COOL Law Supports Farmers, Ranchers and Fishermen
Consumers who prefer to buy only American food products support America's farmers, ranchers and fishermen. When a customer buys produce, meat and fish labeled "Product of the U.S.A." he or she is providing jobs for millions of employees across the country. The employees work in America's processing and packing plants. They work in warehouses and in the transportation industry – railroads and trucking companies – as well.
Buying local is cheaper and it keeps the money where it belongs – in America. What better way is there to restore the broken U.S. economy than to invest in locally-grown crops, fish and meat grown and raised in our own backyards? American consumers who buy American products are the building blocks of a stronger, self-sufficient nation.
What Foods are Covered by the COOL Program?
The new COOL program applies to supermarkets, full-line grocery stores and club warehouse stores. It does not apply to meat markets, butcher shops, seafood stores, convenience store foods and other smaller stores that are not full-service groceries.* Look for labels on:
- Fresh and frozen fruits
- Fresh and frozen vegetables
- Meats such as chicken, pork and beef roasts, goat meat and hamburger*
- Fish and shellfish (farm-raised and fresh-caught)
- Peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts
- Ginseng
*The website, United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA AMS), shows a complete list of food items covered under COOL in the article titled, " Country of Origin Labeling " (Staff, 2010). The same site also informs consumers on what is not covered by the COOL law. Readers can view a YouTube video that gives details about the labeling.
Incidentally, fish have to be labeled either "wild-caught" or "farm-raised", too. Labeling can make a big difference to consumers who are hesitant to buy wild-caught fish that may have come in contact with oil, oil dispersant, mercury or some other type of toxin. Such was the fear in 2010, with the BP oil spill that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico.
Some Products Have More Than One Country of Origin Label
More than one label is used when a meat or vegetable is processed by more than one country. Meat is a good example: Cattle that were born and raised Mexico might be slaughtered, carved and packaged at a plant in America. Therefore, multiple labels apply.
Peaches that were grown and harvested outside the U.S. might be sliced, frozen and bagged in America. Again, multiple labels apply because the food was handled in two different countries. Food items labeled "Product of the U.S.A." must have been planted, born, raised or grown in the U.S., and must be harvested, processed and packaged in the U.S.
About Those Foods Not Covered by the COOL Program
Marinated meats are not covered under COOL law. Meats and seafood that are cooked, cured, restructured or combined with other foods do not have to be labeled with a country of origin. Bologna and other cold cuts are exempt from COOL because many are made with a variety of ingredients. A fruit salad wouldn't have to be labeled.
The law doesn't include small specialty shops, as stated in the April 2009 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine. Samantha B. Cassetty, M.S., R.D. GHRI Nutrition Director, gives a few details in the magazine's Goodhealth Nutrition News, page 36, in the article titled, "Where's the Beef From?" Cassetty lists processed foods that are excluded as well. "Processed foods, like those that are breaded (chicken nuggets) or cured (bacon), as well as mixed produce (bagged lettuces that contain more than one variety), are exempt."
How Does the COOL Program Aid Health Officials?
Even under the best of conditions things can go wrong. When an outbreak of E. coli or salmonella begins to make people sick, it's up to health officials to try and find the source of the bacteria. What if the breakout spreads across an entire region or seems to appear in grouped areas across the country? Such an investigation can take days, weeks or even months – if the true source is found at all. Labeling makes it easier to find a common denominator – a source that's linked to the contamination.
Labeling is one way consumers can take precautions against a food product that might be contaminated. If you know avocados from Chile have recently been in the news for making restaurant patrons sick, then you might want to avoid them for awhile until the danger has passed – at least the avocados from Chili, anyway. Stores try to remove recalled food items as quickly as possible, but it might not be soon enough for some customers.
The COOL Program Supplies Location Information Only
The COOL program is a means of supplying information to consumers so that they know where a particular food came from. COOL is not a measure of safety or a reflection of health standards. Regardless of origin, all food items must be inspected and approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
It's really kind of interesting to learn where some of our meat, fruits and vegetables originate from. What's next? Perhaps grocery stores will be inclined to post world maps in each department so customers can see where a particular food was grown and harvested. New imported foods are tempting to some customers – an exotic fruit, for example, that comes from a country that few people recognize.
COOL provides useful information to consumers. Freshness is one top priority with shoppers. A local tomato grower who can get his fresh harvest to the table in a day or two has an advantage over the grower from another country. Shipping takes time, fuel and raises retail costs. Comparison shopping is another plus for consumers who want only the best and tastiest products for the lowest price. See what labels you can spot on your next shopping trip. Do a little comparison shopping and perhaps try something new and exotic for dinner tonight.
Mary King - Mary King is a Suite101 Topic Editor for the Caregiver Support and Home Management sections. She has authored 5 teen-based novels.
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