Country-of-Origin Labels Get 2nd Look

Tainted Chinese food imports raise stakes after Congressional stalling Repeated food contamination scares and scandals that trace origins to shoddy oversight in China have U.S. lawmakers facing the mirror. That five-year-old country-of-origin labeling law Congress passed, and never enforced, is getting to be an embarrassment. Or at least, it ought to be. Despite having approved a law that requires the food industry to tell shoppers what country produced the foods they purchase, lobbyists and their Congressional supporters have prevented the 2002 law from taking effect on all but seafood, according to a report in today's New York Times. This issue is simple. We know what countries produce our T-shirts, and it hasn't killed the clothing industry. With food safety scandals growing more and more frequent, and the federal government proving that it's not up to the task of policing the international network of food producers, a simple right to know is a simple -- no, no-brainer -- first step, according to a story in the July 1 Chicago Tribune. Related Stories SAFE FOOD WATCH: Eye On Pesticides A Special Report Chinese Seafood Imports Halted Toxic Toothpaste Scandal Grows Death Toll From Toxic Cough Syrup Could Be 300 China Cracks Down On Food Makers Apples And Garlic Top Chinese Food Imports Law Hides U.S. Food Origins: From Afghanistan To Zimbabwe