Demand COOL laws

I can not urge you to read Daniel Imhoff's "Food Fight : The Citizen's Guide to a Food and Farm Bill" strongly enough.

This one law (already on the books) would, in my opinion, actually bring the market forces to bear on this issue that the other side hides behind rhetorically but fears in practice. Okay it may be wedge issue politics it may be bumpersticker politics but COOL laws would go a long way to open people's eyes about what they are eating.



http://www.ams.usda.gov/cool/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_of_Origin_Labeling
Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL) is a requirement signed into American law under Title X of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (known as the 2002 Farm Bill). This law requires retailers provide country-of-origin labeling for fresh beef, pork, and lamb. It is set for reintroduction in the 2007 Farm Bill currently being debated in the United States Congress.




http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-060710label-story,1,6159286.story?coll=chi-news-hed

WASHINGTON - Amid concerns about the safety of pet food ingredients and catfish from China, consumers and even a few members of Congress are wondering why there isn't a law that requires merchants to label where food comes from.

The short answer: There is. And there has been since 2002.

If it takes effect, COOL would require country-of-origin labeling on beef, pork, lamb, fruit and peanuts.

It would not apply to processed foods or to meals served in restaurants. The labeling requirement has applied to fish and shellfish since 2005.

Country-of-origin labeling was passed in 2002 as part of the farm bill, a massive piece of legislation that comes up for renewal about every five years. It was touted as a way to protect American food producers from cheap imports, much like the "Made in the U.S.A." tags on clothing and other items.

But nearly as soon as President Bush signed the farm bill into law, COOL opponents began to work against it. The provision's effective date was delayed until September 2006, then again until 2008.