Rule change would limit ‘Product of USA’ labels

By Mark Richardson ILLINOIS NEWS CONNECTION

A proposal by the U.S. Department of Agriculture would change the rules on what foods can be labeled “Product of USA.”

Current regulations allow foreign-raised livestock to use that designation, putting producers in Illinois and across the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage.

Thenewrulewouldallowthe“ProductofUSA” label to be used only on meat, poultry and eggs from animals born, raised, slaughtered and processed in the U.S.

Dee Laninga, senior writer with the group Farm Action, said current law allows the label to be used if the product simply passes through a U.S. inspection plant.

“That allows imported meat to be imported by

Ticks

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8% respondents were satisfied with the precautionary measures currently taken.

Interestingly, we found that farmers implement more preventive measures against ticks for their pets than for themselves. Those with cattle were even less likely to use prevention measuresontheirlivestock.

Did you identify significant gaps in their understanding of the risks?

We found several critical gaps in their understanding. First, farmers were not knowledgeable about the main vectors of tick-borne illness in their counties. Second, they were not aware of tick-prevention measures for themselves multinational corporations,” said Laninga, “repackaged, and then passed off as higherquality product raised by U.S. farmers and ranchers.”

Farm advocates say it’s not only a matter of fairness but also a major pocketbook issue for Illinois agriculture. The Illinois Farm Bureau says the state’s livestock industry and related food processors annually contribute $31 billion to the economy while supporting 91,000 jobs.

American agricultural interests have been fightingtogetthelabelingrule changed since Congress rolled back the mandatory country-of-origin labeling rule on beef and pork in 2015.

Langinga said the change would level the playing field for U.S. farmers and also educate consumers about where such as wearing permethrin-treated clothing.

Third, farmers were not taking enough measures to protecttheircattlewithtick repellents or topical acaricides.

Fourth, they were not aware of where they would go to seek treatment if they had a tick-borne illness. And finally, as stated before,theyhadverylowconcern about contracting a tick-borne disease. The level of knowledge also varied depending on the main commodity produced by the farmer.

What kinds of programs would help fill those gaps in knowledge?

We recommend basic tick and tick-borne disease training for all residents of Illinois because everyone is at risk of being exposed to theirfoodiscomingfrom.

Images Current regulations allow foreign-raised livestock to use that designation, putting producers in Illinois and across the U.S. at a competitive disadvantage.

“When you think about it, food labels are a critical component in our foodsystem,”saidLaninga. “They connect eaters tick bites depending on their occupations, leisure and outdoor habits. For farmers, providing farmspecific training on ticks, tick-borne diseases and their risks of exposure would bolster their knowledge of the necessary measures to take – not just for their companion animals but also for themselves and their livestock. with farmers. Really it is the most direct communication most of us eaters havewithfarmers.When we’re shopping at the grocery store, we can’t ask a farmer, ‘How did

Increasingtherelianceof farmers on reliable sources of information on ticks and tick-borne diseases – such asExtensioneducatorsand veterinary and medical professionals – instead of conventional media and family and friends will allowfarmerstokeepupwith thelatestscientificallyvalid information on the subject. Thiswillallowthemtobetter protect their farm, their animals and their families.

youraisethis?Wheredid

it come from?’ The label really has to do that job.”

MexicoandCanadaare the largest importers of meat into the U.S. — but other countries such as

Brazil, Australia and Japan sell significant amounts as well.

TheUSDAisaccepting public comments on the proposed rule at regula tions.govthroughMay12.