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Consumers Want M-COOL-Truth in Labeling

A

Anonymous

Guest
Food safety worries makes consumers label-savvy
By Chris Jones
KEYWORDS

Food safety and labelling

28-Mar-2008 - US consumers are increasingly turning to the information on their food labels amid the growing incidence of food safety scares, according to the Hartman Group.

Speaking during a conference of food industry executives organised by the Food Institute, Hartman's marketing communications manager Kate Peringer said that the media coverage of food scares had made consumers keener than ever to "buy American".

"There's been a lot of scares in the last year involving tainted goods from other countries, China has had a considerable number of problems in this arena," she said.

That was why 75 per cent of consumers interviewed by Hartman said that Country of origin labeling (COOL) should be mandatory, with only eight per cent in disagreement, Peringer said.

"American consumers are very interested as to where their food is coming from, as well as the source of the different ingredients within these products," she added.

Sixty per cent of consumers said that it was somewhat or very important to know the source of the ingredients in the food they eat, according to Hartman's s data.

"Things like dairy, produce, meat and seafood - they want to know where these ingredients are coming from, and I think that that is a very important thing to consider [as a food processor or formulator] if you are importing some of these products," Peringer said.

"The media has done a great job of publicizing these scares, and even deaths that have happened across the country, and consumers are on heightened alert."


"They want to know 'Where are my products coming from?'."

Peringer added that a relatively small number of consumers had also gone a step further and were buying only food produced in their local region, since they believed that this made the food safer.

Media reports of contaminated food from China have been growing steadily over the last year or so - Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton even mentioned it in one of her campaign speeches. These, coupled with other reports about the apparent lack of sufficient resources for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to detect contaminated food has made consumers much more aware about what they are eating.

Not, of course, that food from America is necessarily any safer. Last month the US Department of Agriculture forced US meat packers Hallmark/Westland to recall thousands of products after allegations that cattle were not being treated properly and that there was a serious risk of contamination.

And Peringer had one final comment on labeling and consumer perceptions of 'good' and 'bad' food.

"One thing our research has shown is that if consumers cannot understand or pronounce an ingredient on the food label, then they will generally consider it a bad," no matter where it comes from.

"We recommend that food formulators use ingredients that are simple, clean and easy if they want to have consumers' confidence."

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=84290&m=2ICT410&idP=18&c=nmtmboxfjiuddow&idcat=0
 

PORKER

Well-known member
Things like dairy, produce, meat and seafood - they want to know where these ingredients are coming from, and I think that that is a very important thing to consider [as a food processor or formulator] if you are importing some of these products," Peringer said. Peringer commented
"One thing our research has shown is that if consumers cannot understand or pronounce an ingredient on the food label, then they will generally consider it a bad," no matter where it comes from.

Thus we need COOL even on the ingredients of corned beef.
 

PORKER

Well-known member
Fears trigger changes in food labeling laws

By Donalee Moulton
Halifax
April 25 2008
In the wake of an international pet food scandal, many consumers – driven by fear – are looking to labels to tell them where a food was grown, manufactured, or processed. The label, however, is unlikely to be of great help.

In general, if a “Made in Canada” pronouncement is printed on a label, then that food had to have come into being here or 51 per cent of the direct cost of making the product (excluding packaging) had to occur here, said Peter Travers, senior program officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Ottawa.

It is a policy, he noted, that has recently come under intense media and public scrutiny. “Some people don’t agree (and) many are confused by the ‘Made in Canada’ policy. They interpret the label statement differently.”

Food safety standards

The confusion reflects the complexity, and the often global nature, of the foods that line grocery store shelves across Canada. In terms of safety, however, it is not the label that will protect Canadians but existing legislation that requires all imported foods to meet Canadian standards. Often when those standards are not met, it is a deliberate violation of the law, as was the case with the contaminated pet food from China that killed or harmed thousands of animals in North America.

In addition to meeting food safety standards, companies must also comply with prohibitions regarding making false and misleading statements on a label, said Travers.

Those laws, it seems, are not reassuring Canadians — and politicians at the top of the food chain are listening to those concerns. Late last year, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced development of the country’s first Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, “a comprehensive set of new measures... to ensure that Canadians maintain their confidence in the food, health, and consumer products they buy,” according to Health Minister Tony Clement.

The proposed plan focuses on three key areas: preventing problems in the first place; targeting the highest risks; and rapid response. The last area requires development of new legislation that would allow the government to take faster action to protect the public when a problem occurs. This includes the power to pull unsafe consumer and health products from store shelves, and better information to speed food product recalls.

Ottawa has already acted on providing that better information. A new website, www.healthycanadians.ca, has been launched that enables Canadians to search recalled food and children’s products that are unsafe or unhealthy.

Imports

Canada is not alone in its concern — or its zeal. In a recent study, Consumer Reports concluded that finding a product’s homeland on a U.S. label isn’t always easy. From a can of Pennsylvania Dutchman branded sliced mushrooms that claim to be “America’s Favorite Mushrooms,” but are actually a product of China to the packaging for a padlock branded “American Lock,” which is assembled in Mexico, Consumer Reports determined that simply implying a product is made in the U.S. is no guarantee.
“Generally, imports must be labeled with country of origin, but that alone doesn’t always tell the product’s whole story,” said senior editor Tod Marks.

This research falls on the heels of a survey conducted by Consumer Reports that found Americans favour strengthening food labeling requirements. According to the poll, 92 per cent of Americans agree that imported foods should be labeled by their country of origin.

Country of origin labeling

In North America, at least, the U.S. is leading the way for what is commonly called country of origin labeling, or COOL. Even so, implementation of that legislation has been delayed several times. It now appears the delays are over.

The law regulating country of origin labeling, part of the 2002 Farm Bill, encompasses almost all foods. It is slated to take effect this October.

While consumers in the U.S. may sleep easier as a result, Canadian food producers, especially those in the beef industry, are concerned by the new legislation south of the border. Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, spoke on the issue at the most recent annual meeting of the Alberta Barley Commission. The legislation goes well beyond attaching a simple sticker to a product, he said.

Imported meat, including Canadian beef, destined for retailers would have to be processed, shipped, warehoused and displayed separately, he noted, adding that the amount of segregation would see many customers simply buy meat from a single source or country. Plus it would add an estimated 40 per cent to the cost of Canadian beef.

Opposition to the COOL legislation was expected from at least three countries: Canada, Mexico, and Australia. According to a Canadian Parliamentary report, Australia has threatened to make a challenge under the World Trade Organization. Canada and Mexico may launch a challenge under NAFTA.

However, to do that Canada would have to demonstrate there is an intention to obstruct imported foods. This may be difficult — since fear appears to be a prime motivator.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
"Imported meat, including Canadian beef, destined for retailers would have to be processed, shipped, warehoused and displayed separately, he noted,"

They would have to schedule processing - no biggee, but why would it have to be shipped, warehoused, and displayed seperately?
 

PORKER

Well-known member
No traceability or traceback labeling systems will cause segregation on the shelf or all the way back to the item tagged animal slaughtered. You have to have item level traceback in the whole food chain. SFK http://www.meatandpoultryonline.com/storefronts/sfk.html and ScoringAg have item level traceback in packing plants on to retail.
 

Sandhusker

Well-known member
PORKER said:
No traceability or traceback labeling systems will cause segregation on the shelf or all the way back to the item tagged animal slaughtered. You have to have item level traceback in the whole food chain. SFK http://www.meatandpoultryonline.com/storefronts/sfk.html and ScoringAg have item level traceback in packing plants on to retail.

Sounds like somebody trying to sell a traceback service. The idea is for consumers to be able to know the country of origin, and if they are labeled properly, you can have product from 30 countries in the same cooler and the intent of the law will be met. This doesn't have to be difficult.
 

PORKER

Well-known member
http://www.traceback.com/ gives a good story. TOO many food recalls in the food industry from field to fork, even Restaurants. The food sourced today comes from everywhere. Look at the Tops hamburger recall ,Canada and Argentina were the suppliers.
 

PORKER

Well-known member
Wolff pledges to fight illegal honey claims
By Laura Crowley


28-May-2008 - Ingredients company Alfred L Wolff is vigorously denying accusations against two of its US executives who were arrested for allegedly importing honey from China mislabelled as coming from Russia and the Ukraine.

Honey imported from China to the US necessitates antidumping duties to make up for alleged unfair influences on competition, as the exported product is lower in price than what is normally paid in the home market.

Prosecutors alleged the honey imported by two employees from the Chicago offices of the Hamburg-based company was falsely labelled so as to avoid paying this antidumping fee, according to the Associated Press.

Furthermore, the honey was said to contain an antibiotic that is not approved in the US for use in food-producing animals, such as bees.


Alexander Wolff, managing director, confirmed to FoodNavigator.com that two employees have been arrested.

"We are mainly accused to have imported honey into the US in violation of custom regulations with respect to declarations of origin to avoid antidumping duties," he said.

"These accusations are wrong and shall be rebutted and we will defend ourselves against these allegations with all legal means.

Wolff said he was unable to comment on the matter in further detail due to the ongoing proceedings and based on the advice of attorneys.

The company provides a wide range of floral and organic raw honeys as well as customised honey blends for use in the industry. Other activities include the production and distribution of hydrocolloids and liquorice extract.


The investigation
Back in February, federal agents took samples from nine containers of honey that were market as having come from Russia. Antidumping duties are not applicable for this origin.

However, tests showed three of the nine containers were from China, claimed the Associated Press. Another batch labelled as coming from the Ukraine was also found to be sourced from China.

Then, after searching Wolff's Chicago offices, investigators found a shipment of the honey was sold to a company in Texas, despite containing the illegal antibiotic. And 57 tonnes of "Light Amber Polish Honey" may also have come from China.

The two were arrested at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on Friday.

The current charge is said to carry a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a $250,000 (€159,440) fine. A bond hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
STH Korea To Expand Country-Of-Origin Labelling For Beef In June



Yahoo!7

May 28, 03:15 PM



SEOUL, May 28 Asia Pulse - South Korea will expand and strengthen the country-of-origin labelling rules for beef sold by restaurants and catering services in June to enhance the right of consumers to choose the food they eat, the government said Wednesday.



The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the tightened rules should go into effect around June 18 after the three-week period for preannouncement of legislation.



The new rules call for all eateries, fast food chains, catering firms and other food service providers, regardless of size, to clarify the type of beef they are using. Currently, only restaurants that have a floor space of 300 square meters are required to notify customers of the beef's country of origin.

http://www.ellinghuysen.com/news/articles/69806.shtml
 

PORKER

Well-known member
People are getting fed-up with criminals buying and selling food that is unknown with unknown compounds yet the ranchers and farmers did a great job of growing it.
 
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