Know if your salad is safe

In 2002, the U.S. Congress passed the law requiring country of origin labels (COOL) on meat and fresh produce, but it has taken all of six years for the government to start implementing it. Yet, some food safety advocates say the new regulations do not go far enough and still carry many loopholes.

The new regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture went into effect at the start of October. Country of origin labels must now appear on beef (including veal), lamb, chicken, goat, and pork, including their ground forms; perishable produce like fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables; macadamia nuts, pecans, ginseng and peanuts. Retailers and food producers who fail to put required labels on the covered products will face fines up to $1,000 but they are given six months to comply with the law.

For most safety advocates, the new labeling requirements will give consumers a sense of safety, now that they can trace the origin of fresh food they buy at U.S. supermarkets. The labels ensure that in the event of an outbreak, products originating from other countries or from within the United States can be identified quickly.

The regulations are timely, coming after the melamine-tainted Chinese milk scandal and salmonella-contaminated Mexican peppers heightened public fears over the safety of food imports.

The concern is not confined to imports. There have been a number of Salmonella and E. coli outbreaks in recent years traced to California-grown spinach and other foods produced in the United States.

Though the regulations look tough, some safety advocates think the labeling requirements are not specific enough. They want to have labels with bar codes that can identify the particular farm that produced the food.

The labeling system also contains many loopholes. For example:

* Some foods may actually be produced in the U.S., but if packed in a neighboring country say, Mexico, it will still bear the label “Product of USA.” This was one hindrance last summer in the search for salmonella-tainted tomatoes.

* Ground meat products that mix ground meat from a foreign country and the U.S. will have labels that list both countries but without indicating specific proportions coming from each. Processed meats and deli treats do not need labeling.

* Raw produce, like lettuce, need the label, but if salad mixes are put on produce the label will not be necessary. Prepared fruit salads using different fruits or green salads mixing various lettuces do not need the label.

* Raw shrimp should be labeled, but if the retailer puts spices on it the label becomes unnecessary because they are now “processed.” In the same vein, processed meats, flavored loins, breaded or marinated chicken parts, roasted peanuts are considered “processed” and therefore exempt from the label.

* When a particular commodity that requires labeling is combined with one or more commodity also subject to labeling, the combination is considered “processed food” and becomes excluded from the labeling requirement.

Safety Tip:

* Keep your eyes open when shopping. The labeling requirements should make consumers more aware of their buying decisions.