New law to require meat labeling

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- A new federal law will soon require that food manufacturers and grocery stores tell consumers where a product's meat comes from, officials said.

Starting Sept. 30, "Country of Origin Labeling," or COOL, will be required on beef, pork, chicken and lamb, the Chicago Tribune reported Saturday.

The labels will disclose whether the meat came from animals raised in the United States or abroad. The law also extends to perishable items, such as fruits and vegetables and some nuts.

Food safety advocates say the new law will help consumers buy domestically grown meat, if that is their preference. Some critics say the law is too narrow.

"When they finalized this rule, they bent over backward to make as few things be covered as possible," said Michael Hansen, a senior staff scientist with Consumers Union. "There are giant, giant loopholes in the law."