The problem with many analyses of this 'problem' of labelling is that consumers, when asked in various consumer focus groups, want not just country of origin, they want RANCH or FARM of origin. Some ranchers fear that, so demanded it be ONLY country of origin.

Advertising beef as to source would be the simple way, but some ranchers want to be able to sell their generic beef for source labelled prices, so got that law passed. Adding words to labels DOES cost money, so packers and grocers will pass those costs back to suppliers.

Don't be too quick to put down 'Mexican cattle' as poor in quality. Remember, USA producers have been selling their breeding stock to Mexicans for decades and that quality just might rival that of some herds represented on this site.

Let's see, now, what is the amount of beef imported compared with that raised in the USA right now?

mrj