Mystery Meat on the Grill

The World Trade Organization just ruled that America’s popular country-of-origin labeling law to let people know where the meat they buy comes from violates global trade standards. How is that you ask? Well the WTO says because it erects a trade barrier to U.S. meat imports from countries like Canada and Mexico.

I mean why the hell should you be able to make an informed decision about the origin of your food anyway?

Meat and poultry farmers in Canada and Mexico claim the labeling law created a drop in exports. It also flies in the face of the kind of deal President Obama is looking for with Fast Track trade authority and trade deals. Obama and his administration have been working behind the curtain of secrecy on the Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

I am joining today with watchdog groups like  sought by the Obama Administration, watchdog groups like Food & Water Watch in crying foul over this ridiculous ruling.<http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/pressreleases/corporate-trade-agenda-attacks-americans-right-to-know/>

“People have the right to know where the food they feed their families comes from. It is nonsensical that a label that lets consumers know the origin of their food would be considered a trade barrier,” said Food & Water Watch  Executive Director Wenonah Hauter, noting “even with (the labeling requirements in place), cattle and hog imports from Canada and Mexico are at higher levels than before they took effect.”<http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/pressreleases/corporate-trade-agenda-attacks-americans-right-to-know/>

Surveys show nine in ten Americans  support the mandatory labeling laws, which requires meat producers to show consumers the country where the meat came from.<http://www.greenerchoices.org/pdf/ConsumerReportsFoodLabelingSurveyJune2014.pdf>

The WTO ruling also destroys President Barack Obama’s numerous recent comments about global trade deals with Pacific Rim and European countries: “Critics warn that parts of this deal would undermine American regulation – food safety, worker safety, even financial regulations. They’re making this stuff up. This is just not true. No trade agreement is going to force us to change our laws.”

I’m not sure why I am even surprised about this. I mean Obama seems to stumble blindly into almost every thing he does whether at home or abroad.

As a consumer I do believe I have the right to know where my food comes from.

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