2/10/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2006

Contact: Sandy Courtnage

Spinach Scare Points to the Need for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL)

GREAT FALLS, MT (Sept. 15, 2006) – The Montana Farmers Union today again called for the immediate implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on September 14, 2006, issued a consumer alert about an outbreak of E. coli that is thought to be associated with the consumption of bagged fresh spinach. No other information is available at this writing.

Montana Farmers Union Executive Director Tracy Houck said that if a clear indication of product origin existed concerning the suspected spinach, a host of producers with non-contaminated produce would not be affected economically.

“The argument for implementing COOL often focuses on the fact that it will be a good marketing tool for producers,” said Houck. “This spinach incident points out the additional need for COOL for food safety reasons. Montana Farmers Union has supported mandatory COOL implementation for years, and an event such as the E. coli outbreak linked to spinach should focus everyone’s attention on the need for strict food security measures throughout the U.S.”

Montana Farmers Union continues to be frustrated that Congress has delayed implementation of country of origin labeling of meat and poultry products until 2008. The law was originally passed in 2002 and the Congressional delays have caused serious damage.

Several surveys consistently illustrate American consumers support mandatory country-of-origin labeling and are even willing to pay a premium for such information. Furthermore, 48 of the 57 countries with whom the U.S. trades, require labeling on one or more of the covered commodities under the U.S. law. Evidence that this law does work can be found in the implementation of mandatory COOL for seafood, which took effect April 2005, which is benefiting both seafood producers and consumers today.

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