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Colorado to vote on country of origin signage at grocers

A cattle group is applauding the state of Colorado’s legislature for considering its own country of origin labeling.

R-CALF CEO Bill Bullard says the Colorado state legislature is scheduled to vote Monday on a state proposal he believes legally goes around a federal repeal of COOL legislation. He says it would require retailers to put a placard next to the beef to denote its origin, it’s domestic or foreign.  “As a result of not requiring a label on each individual package, we believe that we overcome the problems that other bills have faced with the Meat Inspection Act, and as a result, the retailers don’t have to put any more markings on the package.  Instead, all they have to do is put a placard next to the beef.”

Bullard says South Dakota and Wyoming tried to pass similar legislation but says the North American Meat Institute successfully lobbied against those bills.  He says the timing of the Brazilian beef scandal gives them an excellent opportunity to succeed in Colorado because people want to know their food is safe.