COOL

Way back in 2002 some lawmakers thought it might be a good idea if meat producers had to indicate on the label what country the meat actually came from. It seems like such a simple idea but, as I've come to learn, the producers of our food have a vested interest in keeping us as ignorant about it as possible. Unfortunately for that 2002 law, the implementation was delayed through the power of the meat packers, pork producers, and grocery chains. They claimed it would create a record keeping nightmare and increase the cost of meat. Funny, but the meat I buy is labeled with where it was raised, what it was fed, and where it was slaughtered and processed. Add to that the fact that it costs less than the meat at the grocery store and the industry arguments don't hold much water. Trader Joe's also manages to label the country of origin on their meat and the prices seem pretty reasonable to me.

Fast forward to 2007 and the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) law is part of the farm bill passed by the House. It still has to be merged with the Senate version of the bill and make it past the White House but at least there's a glimmer of hope.