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U.S. NEWS Tuesday 7 March 2023
Made in the USA? Proposed rule clarifies grocery meat labels

By JONEL ALECCIA cluding the U.S. Cattle-
AP Health Writer men's Association, which
Shoppers could soon find petitioned the USDA for the
it easier to tell if those gro- label change in 2019.
cery store steaks or pork "The proposed rule finally
chops were really "Made in closes this loophole by ac-
the USA." curately defining what
Federal agriculture officials these voluntary origin
on Monday released new claims mean," said Justin
requirements that would al- Tupper, the group's presi-
low labels on meat, poultry dent. "If it says 'Made in
or eggs to use that phrase the USA,' then it should be
-- or "Product of USA" -- from cattle that have only
only if they come from ani- known USA soil. Consum-
mals "born, raised, slaugh- ers have the right to know
tered and processed in where their food comes
the United States." That's from, full stop."
a sharp change from cur- Thomas Gremillion, director
rent policy, which allows of food policy for the Con-
voluntary use of such labels sumer Federation of Amer-
on products from animals ica, said the change is a
that have been imported "small but important step"
from a foreign country and that should have been
slaughtered in the U.S., but In this photo made on June 16, 2022, rows of fresh cut beef is in the coolers of the retail section at made long ago.
also on meat that's been the Wight's Meat Packing facility in Fombell, Pa. Under the current rule, Gre-
imported and repackaged Associated Press million noted, a cow can
or further processed. be raised in Mexico under
Imports of beef from coun- bels with consumers' views. About 12% of all meat, a nationally representa- that country's regulations
tries including Australia, A survey commissioned by poultry and egg products tive sample of more than for feed and medications,
Canada and Brazil, for in- the USDA found that nearly sold in the country carry 4,800 American adults who then shipped across the
stance, account for about two-thirds of shoppers be- the U.S.-origin labels, USDA do the grocery shopping border and slaughtered
12% of the total consumed lieved that a "Product of officials said. for their families and who that same day to make
in the U.S. Overall, imports USA" label meant that most The label change was first bought beef or pork in the ground beef and steaks
of red meat and poultry ac- or all meat production proposed by President Joe previous six months. More that qualify as "Product of
count for less than 6%, while steps occurred in the U.S. Biden in 2021 and was in- than 40% of the shoppers USA."
imports of eggs account for "There's obviously a discon- cluded last year in a series said they look for the USA Carrie Balkcom, executive
less than half of 1%. nect between what the of steps to bolster the U.S. label when buying meat. director of the trade group
U.S. Department of Agri- consumers' understandings meat and poultry supply The rule was praised by American Grassfed Associ-
culture Secretary Tom Vil- and expectations are and chain. consumer advocates and ation, said the existing rule
sack said the proposed rule what the label currently is," The USDA survey, conduct- representatives for U.S. also penalizes small domes-
would better align the la- Vilsack said in an interview. ed last summer, included ranchers and farmers, in- tic producers.q

Several GOP states pull out of effort to thwart voter fraud

By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY souri Secretary of State Jay "We will continue our work
Associated Press Ashcroft said Monday that on behalf of our remaining
ATLANTA (AP) — Election he had been pushing the member states in improv-
officials in Florida, Missouri group to address concerns ing the accuracy of Ameri-
and West Virginia said Mon- by him and others. ca's voter rolls and increas-
day they are withdrawing "It appears that ERIC will ing access to voter registra-
from a bipartisan, multi- not make the necessary tion for all eligible citizens,"
state effort aimed at ensur- changes to address these Hamlin said in a statement.
ing the accuracy of voter concerns, therefore, it is The program was started in
rolls that has found itself in time to move on," Ashcroft 2012 by seven states and
the crosshairs of conspiracy said in a statement. was bipartisan from the
theories fueled by Donald West Virginia Secretary of beginning, with four of the
Trump's false claims about State Mac Warner said he founding states led by Re-
the 2020 presidential elec- did not expect the depar- publicans. After the states
tion. ture from the program to officially depart, partici-
The system to thwart voter affect his state's ability to pation will be limited to 28 A poll worker prepares to give a ballot to a voter at the Blue Ash,
fraud known as the Elec- maintain accurate voter states and the District of Ohio Municipal building for the primary, Aug. 2, 2022.
tronic Registration Informa- rolls. Florida's secretary of Columbia. Associated Press
tion Center, or ERIC, has be- state, who is appointed by The departures have frus-
come a target of suspicion the governor, did not im- trated state election offi- out of ERIC are primarily ing to me that any official
among some Republicans mediately respond to a re- cials involved in the effort harming their own state's would choose validating
after a series of online posts quest for comment. and have demonstrated ability to keep their voter misinformation over be-
early last year questioning Shane Hamlin, the group's how deeply election con- list accurate," Michigan ing part of a collaborative
its funding and purpose. executive director, con- spiracies have spread Secretary of State Jocelyn that has the sole and well-
Louisiana withdrew last firmed the three states had throughout the Republican Benson said in a statement established purpose of im-
year and Alabama is in the provided notice to with- Party. Monday to The Associated proving the integrity of our
process of doing so. Mis- draw. "Election officials who pull Press. "It's odd and disturb- elections."q