Food & Agriculture

CFA Joins Consumer, Farmer Advocates in Pressing for Prompt Action on Misleading “Product of USA” Claims

Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Reports, Food & Water Watch, and the National Family Farm Coalition submitted the following comments on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service’s proposed rule to restrict misleading “Product of USA” and “Made in the USA” claims on foreign foods. The comments ask the agency to reject industry trade association requests for an extension of the comment period on the proposed rule, pointing out that companies wishing to use the misleading labeling claims prohibited by the rule should come forward themselves to defend the status quo. The proposed rule only applies to voluntary labeling claims. However, 88% of Americans favor requiring meat to be labeled with information about where animals were born, raised and slaughtered, according to a survey commissioned by Consumer Federation of America.