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New Poll Shows Overwhelming Consumer Support For Country Of Origin Labeling

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Eighty-two percent of consumers support mandatory country of origin labeling of food, according to a poll released today by Food & Water Watch. 

“Consumer support for country of origin labeling has been consistently strong for years,” said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of Food & Water Watch.  “It is time for Congress to listen to the more than eight out of ten Americans who want to know where their food comes from and stop delaying country of origin labeling.”

In addition to strong consumer support for this labeling program, farmers and ranchers also want country of origin labels on food.  This week more than 100 farmers from across the United States are in Washington DC to tell their members of Congress that it is time to implement country of origin labeling.  The farmers are participating in a fly-in organized by the National Farmers Union, one of more than 200 groups that support COOL.

Congress has repeatedly delayed the effective date for 2002 Farm Bill requirements that ordered mandatory country of origin labeling on meat, peanuts, seafood, and fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables sold in retail stores.  In April 2005, the labeling requirement went into effect for seafood, but for other foods mandatory labeling has been delayed until September 2008.

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The survey, conducted by Lake Research Partners for Food & Water Watch, was conducted among 1000 adults living in private households in the continental United States from February 28 through March 5, 2007.

Survey participants were asked:

“Some people have suggested that Congress should require the food industry to provide information on the country of origin of meat, seafood, and produce sold in grocery stores.  Others have suggested that the food industry should be allowed to decide whether they should provide this information.  What do you think?  Should the industry be required to provide this information, or should the food industry be allowed to decide on their own?”