Latest from Food Politics: Where is country-of-origin labeling for beef when we need it?

Everyone should read Eric Schlosser’s op-ed,  Why Did Trump Order Up 660 Million Pounds of Mystery Meat?  We have country-of-origin labeling for fresh produce.   But because of Big Meat lobbying, Beef and pork are notable exceptions to these laws. ...

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By Marion Nestle September 24 2026 Where is country-of-origin labeling for beef when we need it? Everyone should read Eric Schlosser’s op-ed, Why Did Trump Order Up 660 Million Pounds of Mystery Meat?  We have country-of-origin labeling for fresh produce.  But because of Big Meat lobbying, Beef and pork are notable exceptions to these laws. And that may help to explain why President Trump signed a proclamation last month that will allow the duty-free importation of about 660 million pounds of inexpensive beef. If American consumers knew where that beef was coming from, they might not want to eat it. As he explains, this beef is  trimmings, possibly stored frozen for years, intended to be added to ground beef to adjust the fat content. He lists the food safety scandals around such trimmings. China rejected two shipping containers of beef from Uruguay after finding residue of an anti-parasitic drug in the meat. China rejected beef from Argentina reportedly because it tested positive for a banned antibiotic that can cause serious blood disorders. Brazilian federal police raided nearly 200 meatpacking plants after allegations that government inspectors and politicians were being bribed to allow the sale of contaminated beef. As for why President Trump allowed this, against the wishes of the US beef industry: “Regime Change,” the recent book by the Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, contains an interesting clue: a White House meeting last November between President Trump and Joesley Batista, whose family controls JBS…Mr. Batista gained the White House meeting last November, Ms. Haberman and Mr. Swan wrote, because of his friendship with Melania Trump. In addition, a JBS subsidiary had donated $5 million to Mr. Trump’s second inauguration, the largest gift from any individual or corporation. Eric Schlosser discusses this and other such matters on Democracy Now. Comment We need country of origin labeling for beef, for sure.  We have it for produce.  Congress made beef exempt.  Bring it back. Food safety lawyer Bill Marler wants more USDA inspection and more transparency, as he says in 660 Million Pounds of Trimmings — The Part of Eric Schlosser’s Op-Ed I Would Underline.  His advice to hamburger eaters: The one thing that makes a hamburger safe is 160°F, measured with a thermometer. Buy from your butcher if you want to know where your beef came from. Then cook it to 160 anyway. And then, of course, there’s what’s happening to beef prices.  You might feel better about this if you knew the beef was raised here and was safe. The post Where is country-of-origin labeling for beef when we need it? appeared first on Food Politics by Marion Nestle      Related Posts Industry funded study of the week: beef again   Now Available: What to Eat Now My new book, What to Eat Now, is officially out! It's both a field guide to food shopping in America and a reflection on how to eat well—and deliciously. For more information and to order, click here. You can explore the full archive of this (almost) daily blog at foodpolitics.com, where you'll also find information about my books, articles, media interviews, upcoming lectures, favorite resources, and FAQs. Visit the Site » ​​​​​​​ Marion Nestle Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health at New York University, Emerita © Marion Nestle. You're receiving this email because you've signed up to receive updates from us. If you'd prefer not to receive updates, you can unsubscribe. Safely Unsubscribe • Archives • Preferences • Contact • Subscribe • Privacy

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