Mandatory Labeling

Report: Mandatory country-of-origin labeling has not increased demand for US meat

Regulation has resulted in aggregate economic loss, according to study

December 5, 2012

BreakingNews

A report from the Kansas State University Department of Agricultural Economics found that 2009 mandatory country-of-origin labeling (MCOOL) legislation has not significantly impacted demand but has increased costs for producers. The study used retail grocery scanner data, an online survey and in-person interviews to arrive at its conclusion. Only 23 percent of online survey respondents were aware of MCOOL, and nearly two-thirds of respondents did not know if MCOOL was a law. Given the lack of impact on demand and the significant cost of compliance, the report suggests, there has been an aggregate economic loss for the US meat and livestock supply chain. Read the report here.

Shane O’Halloran joined Food Engineering in November of 2012 as Digital/Online Editor. He graduated from Oberlin College in 2010, and worked as a copy editor and contributor to BleacherReport.com and ShesGameSports.com. He has also written feature articles on a freelance basis for publications in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include social media campaigns and website management. Shane produces daily news updates for www.foodengineeringmag.com and Food Engineering’s social media sites. In addition, Shane writes news articles for FE’s TechFlash e-newsletter and Food Engineering’s People and Industry section.