A long-awaited food labeling law requiring disclosure of the country of origin took effect this month, but it covers only some perishables and under certain conditions. Processed foods are exempt, but the definition of “processed” does not always match common usage. It’s a confusing law that doesn’t help consumers nearly as much as it could.
For instance, a bag of a single variety of lettuce must be labeled. A bag of mixed varieties is “processed” and therefore exempt. By the same token, a bag of frozen peas or frozen carrots needs a new label. A bag of frozen peas and carrots is “processed.” Cut cantaloupe in a plastic container? Label needed. The fruit cup of cantaloupe and watermelon sitting right next to it? Processed.
When it comes to meat, only chicken, lamb, goat, pork and beef fall under the new law — if they are raw and “naked.” A pack of chicken breasts must be labeled but if sold already seasoned and breaded and ready to cook, they are “processed” and exempt. The same goes for seafood. By this point, you’re able to guess how raw pork and bacon are viewed under this law. Turkey is not covered at all.
Don’t expect to see the changes immediately. Grocers have six months to comply; after that they face fines of $1,000 for each offense. Small stores are off the hook. The Agriculture Department says the cost of labeling and maintaining records could be burdensome for them. That means your supermarket has to comply, but your local butcher shop — if you’re lucky enough to still have one — does not.
I created this little chart of examples of foods covered by the country of origin labeling law and under what circumstances. For more on the regulations, MSNBC has a good round-up.
|
Yes |
No |
|
| Bagged lettuce |
X |
|
| Bagged lettuce with radicchio |
X |
|
| Fresh or frozen peas |
X |
|
| Frozen peas and carrots |
X |
|
| Peanuts | raw | roasted |
| Fruit | sliced, fresh, one variety | dried, mixed fresh varieties |
| Pork | fresh | bacon, processed pork |
| Seafood | raw | breaded, cooked, marinated |
| Restaurant food | Exempt |
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for this entry.
One way to circumvent some of this stuff is to buy organic, but that is cost prohibitive for many families. As you know, as a single working woman, I have long been committed to sustainable agricultural practices with my pocketbook, not just for myself, but to drive the market.
Another concern of mine is vitamins and supplements, which I take. And this would include foods that are vitamin enriched. It is my understanding that most vitamin C is now produced in China, so that Vitamin C enriched drinks and such, or even packaged processed foods which might seem good food choices, Kashi, Total, etc., could have contaminated vitamins in them, even in trace amounts.
Whole foods, bulk grains, and such are the better way to go, and can be cost effective, especially in these tough times, and until the regulations are even tighter, and China learns that we won’t buy stuff until their government implements half way decent regulations.
Off my soap box, but as I am certain you can guess, this is a pretty deep concern for me . . .
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Goat?
I didn’t know people bought goats to eat, honestly. Wow. If I do buy bagged lettuce, I wash it thoroughly even though it says “triple-washed” or whatever, on the bag. I have an organic veggie wash that I use on almost everything. I think Word Bandit is right to be concerned about supplements–whoever knows, really? I just read today that bad chemicals have been found in bottled water sold in Walmart and other places.
We must keep our immune systems healthy in these times.
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Word Bandit – Soap box? I prefer to think of it as a passion; no need to apologize ever.
I hadn’t ever thought about vitamin-enriched foods and it’s certainly something to be aware of. Thank you for that.
I think one stumbling block is that “we” is not a large enough group. Even in good times, there are people who shop only by price even if they have enough disposable income not to. The Bentonville behemouth would not be so huge if that were not the case. And their shoppers demonstrated their unwillingness to pay a bit more for organics; the much-ballyhooed introduction of a couple hundred organic items in their superstores was rather quietly trimmed back several months ago.
I don’t know what the answer is, but your reminder of vigilance is a good one. Thanks again.
muse – You’re wise to wash those bagged greens. That’s exactly what the government recommends doing.
I saw that story about bottled water. I don’t shop at Walmart, but if I did I would not buy their house brands. Seems no matter what food is under recall, at least one of their brands is among them. But I won’t single them out on the water. The test also found problems with the house brand of Giant Foods, which is a great supermarket chain and if I were back in the Washington area I’d be shopping there again. Giant’s water met the standards for the mid-Atlantic region, where it’s sold, but not for California. I’m a Dasani fan and if a story about it pops up some day I probably would not be surprised.
As for goat – well! It’s poised to become the next big thing. The Times had this interesting story about goat and one goat rancher yesterday. If I’ve ever eaten it, I didn’t know it. Which is possible.