The Department of Agriculture on July 29 issued an interim final rule for the mandatory country of origin labeling program that will become effective Sept. 30.
The rule covers muscle cuts and ground beef and includes veal, lamb, chicken, goat, and pork. The USDA implemented the COOL program for fish and shellfish covered commodities in October 2004.
Commodities covered under COOL must be labeled at retail to indicate their country of origin. They are, however, excluded from mandatory labeling if they are an ingredient in a processed food item.
The USDA has also revised the definition of a processed food item so that those derived from a covered commodity that has undergone a physical or chemical change (cooking, curing, smoking, e.g.) or that has been combined with other covered commodities or other substantive food components (chocolate, breading, tomato sauce, e.g.) are excluded from COOL labeling.
Food service establishments are exempt from the mandatory country of origin labeling requirements
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