Controversy Brews Over US Beef Labeling: Calls to Reinstate Origin Act

A recent video has brought attention to concerns within the American beef industry, particularly regarding the labeling of meat products. According to the video's narrator, the 2014 repeal of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Act for beef and pork has created a loophole allowing major meatpackers to import beef and label it as a "Product of the USA." This practice, the narrator claims, enables these companies to suppress prices for domestically raised cattle while simultaneously increasing beef prices for consumers. The video highlights that two of the four dominant meatpackers in the United States are reportedly owned by Brazilian entities. It further asserts that imported beef, often of lower quality, is being sold as American-produced, potentially misleading consumers. Since the repeal of the COOL Act, the United States has become the world's second-largest importer of beef. An initiative is currently underway across the nation to advocate for the reinstatement of the COOL Act for both beef and pork. Proponents argue that re-establishing country of origin labeling would ensure transparency for consumers and provide fairer compensation for domestic cattle producers.