Copyright 2002 Star Tribune  
Star Tribune (Minneapolis, MN)
October 17, 2002, Thursday, Metro Edition
SECTION: BUSINESS; Pg. 1D

LENGTH: 602 words

HEADLINE: New labels will disclose where food originated

BYLINE: Donna Halvorsen; Staff Writer

BODY:
New federal guidelines for labeling cuts of beef, pork and other meats took effect last week that will make it easier for consumers to determine the country of origin of the meat they eat. Fish, fresh fruits, vegetables and peanuts also are covered.

    But don't look for a label on the ready-to-cook beef Wellington or that salmon sushi that you buy at your local supermarket. They're not required to be labeled.

    And don't expect to see "Product of U.S.A." labels right away _ even on products that are covered.

    The guidelines, part of the new farm bill, are voluntary while the U.S. Department of Agriculture works toward mandatory rules over the next two years.

      Doug Peterson, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, said the labeling is good for farmers and consumers.

    "People want to know where their food is coming from," he said. "It's a customer choice issue. It certainly helps farmers in Minnesota to develop products that are Minnesota-grown."

    Restaurants, lunch rooms, food stands, bars and other food service establishments are excluded from the guidelines.

     Under the guidelines, retailers can label as U.S. products fresh and frozen muscle cuts of beef, veal, lamb and pork; fish; fruits and vegetables and peanuts.

    Beef, pork and lamb products, for example, can be labeled as a U.S. product if the animals were born, raised and slaughtered in the United States. (But in a concession to shoppers' sensibilities, the word "processed" may be used in place of "slaughtered.")

    Blended or mixed products _ such as bratwurst, fresh pork or lamb sausage and some ground beef, for example _ would not need to be labeled. Also excluded are ham, raw corned beef brisket, restructured beef steaks and that ready-to-cook beef Wellington.

     Loose and packaged peanuts are covered. Peanut butter and peanuts in jars are not.

     Wild and farm-raised fish and shellfish are covered. The wild fish must be harvested in U.S. waters or by a U.S.-flagged ship. Not covered: canned tuna and sardines, surimi, restructured fish sticks and salmon sushi.

     The Agriculture Department will take comments on the voluntary program for 180 days.

    "We don't anticipate a lot of changes but we want the ability to keep getting comments and input from a variety of parties," department spokeswoman Alisa Harrison said. "If there needs to be a clarification, we're willing to do that. But there shouldn't be too many changes."

    J. Patrick Boyle, president of the American Meat Institute, called the guidelines "the most costly, cumbersome and complex labeling proposal in history."

    Tim Hammonds, president and chief executive officer of the Food Marketing Institute, said the labels would cause confusion among consumers "without providing them any real benefit."

    "In addition to being extraordinarily difficult to implement, adhering to the guidelines will be extremely expensive for food producers, which will ultimately increase the cost of food for consumers," Hammonds said.

     Peterson called the prospect of increased food costs "a smoke screen."

     "It's a tired argument, and it should go away," he said.

     If consumers know about a questionable practice going on in another country, they should know that when they're shopping, he said. "Freedom of information is pretty strong in my book. I think consumers should have that information to work with when they're purchasing food."

    _ Donna Halvorsen is at dhalvorsen@startribune.com.

    _ Associated Press contributed to this report.



LOAD-DATE: October 17, 2002