UPDATE 5/14/13 4:15 PM: We have just learned that Sen. Johanns withdrew his amendment to eliminate Country of Origin Labeling.  Thank you to all who called and wrote Sen. Johanns and other lawmakers about this important issue!

In a blatant slap in the face to food producers and food consumers alike, Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns has proposed an amendment to the Farm Bill that would eliminate Country Of Origin Labeling (COOL).  COOL is a provision that helps food consumers know where their food comes from, and it helps food producers distinguish their products in the marketplace.  It is truth in labeling, and it promotes informed decision-making.

Now, Sen. Johanns has teamed up with foreign interests to eliminate COOL, and thereby any transparency about where meat on the shelf originated, in tomorrow’s Farm Bill discussion in the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Farmers, ranchers, and food consumers alike need your help.  While this issue deals primarily with beef and poultry, repealing COOL would be a step backwards in food safety, transparency, and free-market competition.  The bottom line is this:  Food consumers demand and have the right to know where their food comes from, whether that food is a steak from a cow raised in the U.S. or a strawberry grown in South America.  To take that basic information away is a violation of consumer trust, and it ends up hurting responsible food producers who are proud to stand by their product.

Please stand up for food sovereignty and take one or more of the following actions as soon as possible:

Call and write Sen. Johanns and tell him that his repeal of COOL is a bad idea:

Phone: (202) 224-4224

Email: mike_johanns@johanns.senate.gov

Use this link to send an electronic message: http://www.johanns.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorJohanns

Link to Sen. Johanns office information: http://www.johanns.senate.gov/public/?p=OfficeLocations

Call and write the Senate Ag Committee members and tell them consumers have the right to know where their food comes from:

Links to the Ag Committee’s websites are at this link: http://www.ag.senate.gov/about

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper:

https://boldnebraska.org/uploaded/LTEContactInfo/ContactsforLettertotheEditor.pdf

Spread the word to family and friends through email, facebook and twitter.

Time is of the essence!  This debate will take place in the Senate Ag Committee tomorrow, Tuesday, May 14th.