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Debate over MCOOL returns as U.S. considers Argentinian beef imports

The executive vice president of the Illinois Beef Association says talks of importing Argentinian beef have reignited calls for mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL).

Josh St. Peters says it was tried in the 2002 Farm Bill but repealed in 2015.

“It didn’t work.”  He says, “It didn’t create any additional sustained value in the marketplace, but tantamount to that argument is the second point, and that is that it was not compliant with the World Trade Organization.  We had significant economic suits and claims that were levied by the Canadian government.”

At a time when there’s a lot of talk about the retail price of beef, St. Peters tells Brownfield that MCOOL would not lower prices. 

“Mandatory country of origin labeling increases the price of beef, and that cost has not been absorbed by packers.”  He says, “That cost gets passed on to consumers and comes out of what the farmer gets paid.”

St. Peters says U.S. producers have worked hard to improve beef quality and consumer demand and are seeing it pay off.

“We need to continue to look at this from the lens of supply and demand.”  He says, “We are in tight supply, but consumers are demanding this incredibly flavorful and incredibly nutritious beneficial protein.”

Other groups, including R-CALF USA, National Farmers Union, and Farm Action, advocate for MCOOL to provide consumers with information about where their food comes from, and they say it also helps support American farmers and ranchers to compete with larger corporations.

AUDIO: Josh St. Peters – Illinois Beef Association