Recent changes to USDA labeling for beef have alleviated some confusion about where beef is grown but some lawmakers want to take labeling a step further by reestablishing Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL).

In July, the USDA announced it will limit the labeling of “Product of the USA” to beef that is grown and processed in the United States. Prior to the change in the Product of the USA labeling beef only had to be processed in the United States and could be grown in other countries.

In 2015, the United States Congress repealed Country of Origin Labeling for beef, pork, and chicken in an amendment of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946. KOTA, an ABC affiliate out of South Dakota, said MCOOL was abandoned because of “compliance cost issues and agreement concerns from the World Trade Organization (WTO).”

The American Beef Labeling Act was introduced to the United States Senate on Sept. 13, 2021. Some opponents to the bill are concerned MCOOL labeling could lead to tariffs by some countries the United States imports beef from, raising prices, and limiting the amount of imported beef.

How is labeling implemented at the retail level?

So, how are these products displayed in your local grocery store? Because the Wichita, KS. Dillons at 37th and Woodlawn only has US-grown beef, its beef products are labeled with the USDA “Product of USA sticker” that accompanies the Choice, Select, or Prime designation.

A Dillons employee said that the location is still using the old “Produced in the USA” stickers because they have not received the new labels yet. On the price label, the beef products at that Dillons location now read “Born, Raised, and Harvested in the USA.”

When it comes to differentiating between traditional meat and plant-based meat, there is no USDA labeling at this point but there is some display façade that separates alternative meat from traditional meat. Alt meat is in its own section in the meat cooler and designated with a dark green plant-based sign at the top.

The packaging for the alt meat brands also displays big bold letters that their product is from plants. The above-mentioned Dillon’s employee said the Wichita 37th and Woodlawn location is carrying significantly less inventory of plant-based meat than a year ago at this time.

USDA Open Comment period

The USDA is also in an open comment period until Nov. 2, 2021, concerning a proposed rule change to the labeling of “meat and poultry products comprised of or containing cultured cells derived from animals subject to the Federal Meat Inspection Act (FMIA; 21 U.S.C. 601 et. seq.) or the Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA; 21 U.S.C. 451 et seq.).”
To comment visit https://www.regulations.gov/document/FSIS-2020-0036-0001.

Sources
Where’s the beef coming from? The congressional push to revive country of origin labeling

American Beef Labeling Act of 2021

USDA Opens Comment Period for Labeling Requirements for Cell-Cultured Meat and Poultry Products