Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)
Consumer Information
Q. Why is the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) on all of the fresh beef, pork, ground beef chicken, veal and lamb packages? It has never been on them before.
A. We are required by the new Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law to tell all our customers where the animals were born [origin] that our meat comes from.
Q. What is Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL)?
A. Law requiring supermarkets to communicate the Country-of-Origin of the majority of the meat, seafood, fruits and vegetables we sell.
Q. Is there a change in the fresh beef and pork products in the meat case?
A. No. The fresh meat in our cases: self-service and service meat continue to be the same high-quality products they have always been.
Q. Why haven’t you notified your customers about this before? Were you trying to keep it from us?
A. No. Where and how animals are raised and processed affect the eating-quality, wholesomeness and food safety of the steaks, roasts, chops, ribs, stew beef and ground meat. Birth location has little, if any, affect on the quality and safety of the beef and pork we sell.
Q. Do you have fresh meat from animals born in the USA?
A. Yes. All products are labeled with the Country of Origin. Some will state “Product of U.S.A.”
May we help you select dinner from our Private Selection natural beef and pork product offerings?
For more information on the Country of Origin Labeling please visit the USDA website.