Editorial: What’s in a label?

Wednesday, July 4, 2007 | 1:04 a.m.

In 2002 Congress passed a law requiring that the country of origin be listed on the labels of all seafood, meat and produce sold in the United States. But powerful food industry lobbyists have prevented the requirement from being enforced on all but seafood.

A story by The New York Times on Monday says the meat and grocery industries have been the most vocal and stalwart foes of the labeling requirement, which was part of the 2002 Farm Bill. These industries say that such labeling is cumbersome and expensive, and that it creates an unfair advantage for American farmers and ranchers because such a requirement could effectively block foreign competitors that sell meat at lower prices.

But as consumer advocates told the Times, people are entitled to know what they are buying. And with the recent U.S. recalls of tainted Chinese-made pet food, toothpaste, seafood and even toys and tires, American consumers want to know - and should know - from what country the food they buy is coming.

A story by The Washington Post on Friday suggests that even the most diligent label-readers may not be able to discern from where, exactly, foods originate. Many items are labeled as being distributed by U.S. companies, but that doesn't mean the items are from here. And even if items are labeled as being made in the United States, there often is no way to tell from what country the companies obtained the ingredients.

It is bewildering that labels don't give enough information. It is downright unnerving to learn that Congress had intended for American consumers to know more, but members of the formerly Republican-led Congress, bowing to industry demands, took action starting in 2003 to delay the labeling.

Congress is in the process of rewriting the Farm Bill, meaning that the labeling issue likely will be settled, the Times reports. In rewriting this law Congress must make certain that strict labeling requirements not only are included, but also are enforced.