Date:  May 4, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michael Stumo, 860.379.6199
P.O. Box 6486 - Lincoln, NE 68506 - www.competitivemarkets.com    
     
     
     
OCM - Packer Lobby Introduces
“Keep Consumers in the Dark Act”
     
Lincoln ~  The Organization for Competitive Markets criticized new anti-consumer legislation by meat packer lobby supporters which would gut the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law passed in the last farm bill.  The bill, dubbed the Meat Promotion Act (H.R. 2068), was introduced by House Agriculture Committee chair Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R Va), and Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.).
 
“We are not surprised this legislation came from House members in the home states of Smithfield Foods and Tyson Foods,” said OCM President Keith Mudd.  “But if truth in labeling governed the House of Representatives, as it should the food marketplace, the bill would be called the ‘Keep Consumers in the Dark Act’.”
 
The 2002 Farm Bill included a provision requiring mandatory COOL by September 30, 2004.  It was overwhelmingly supported by a wide range of interests, including consumer, religious, and independent producer organizations.  The anti-consumer lobby, with U.S. Department of Agriculture support, succeeded in delaying implementation until 2006 through spending bills.
 
“The major meat packers and dominant retailers work very hard to deny consumers the choice of USA raised beef, pork, fruits and vegetables,” continued Mudd.  “The commodity checkoff programs are barred from promoting USA raised product.  Indeed, some checkoff programs make more money from imported product than domestic product.”
 
The cost of mandatory COOL is small.  The only independent legal and economic study conducted found mandatory COOL would cost consumers less than one-tenth of one cent per pound for beef, pork, fish, fruits and vegetables covered by the law.  (VanSickle, McEowen, Taylor, Harl & Connor, “Country of Origin Labeling, A Legal and Economic Analysis”, International Agricultural Trade & Policy Center, May 2003). 
 
“We hope Congress will turn back this dishonest and deceptive legislation.  Consumers should be respected and given the information they need to choose the best food for themselves and their families,” said Mudd. 
     

The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is an agricultural free market and competition think tank working for honesty, prosperity and economic liberty for farmers, ranchers and rural communities.