Cool Labeling in Place

Consumers will now be able to identify where some of their food comes from. Starting in March, meats, fruits, vegetables, and several other foods are now identified with Country of Origin Labeling, or COOL labels.

The mandatory labeling was enacted as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. Prior to the new legislation, imported foods included packaging information with its country of origin. The new law now requires foods from the US to be labeled.

The USDA estimates that the costs surrounding COOL labeling will be approximately $2.5 billion in the first year. It is unclear how these new costs will be spread to consumers.

Other foods included in COOL labeling are peanuts, pecans, macadaia nuts, and ginseng.