Thursday, January 08, 2009

Hybrid

Colorado has tried passing a law which requires all produce, meat, and fish to list the country it originated from. The law did not pass last year but was reintroduced this year. Many stores are starting to label their items in anticipation of the law passing.

I felt like barbecuing a steak the other night so picked up a nice looking top sirloin (on sale) at the local supermarket. When I got home, I noticed it was marked as coming from the USA, Canada, and Mexico.


Gives a whole new meaning to the term “Mystery Meat” – doesn’t it?

16 Comments:

Blogger Cheyenne said...

Geez, what did they do? Take a little from each country and slap it all together, wrap it, and sell it? Aren't we confused enough?

10:29 PM  
Blogger Lucy Stern said...

OK, so where does it come from, the US, Canada or Mexico?....That label doesn't say a thing...All we know is that it doesn't come from China.

4:22 AM  
Blogger bobbie said...

Well, Lucy, I think we may be very happy to know that it doesn't come from China, judging by some things that do. But this one is a real mystery, isn't it? I guess you just have to pick the place you'd rather it be from.

4:32 AM  
Blogger Mountain Mama said...

Did you ask the butcher what it meant?

Personally I am darned fed up with the evasiveness of the packaging labels and the greedy FDA allowances.
I for one have a terrible allergic reaction to Monosodium Glutamate so have to read labels carefully. Did you know that they have given that poison about two dozen different names?

11:15 AM  
Blogger Cliff said...

I think they have implemented that plan you told me about where they give each illegal alien a cow. That''s because they know how to trace cows but not illegal workers.

5:41 PM  
Blogger Peter said...

That's covering all bases Ralph.

6:39 PM  
Blogger Marla said...

Funny you should write about this. My oldest son Seth, was just telling me. Mom, check your meat and make sure you aren't buying the meat that comes from Mexico. He was a butcher at a small shop, were they were inspected everyday, only place in town. My youngest son works there. I shoud get all my meat there, as it is better than the grocery stores. Sometimes I just don't fell like making that extra stop.

9:34 AM  
Blogger Lisa said...

lol. I guess if they just list all the countries, one has to be correct.

10:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hi Ralph!
I'm so confused:o)
Maybe the meat packer forgot where it came from. So to cover his butt, he listed all three, figuring one was correct.

I hope you do make the beef stew. It is very good. Best part - it is a one pot meal and if you use the crockpot liners, easy clean-up. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Lisa

12:31 PM  
Blogger Jamie Dawn said...

Very strange. I guess meat from that company must come from ANY ONE of those three places, but if your steak somehow came from all three places, then... I dunno what to think about it.
My brain hurts.

2:09 PM  
Blogger Paul Nichols said...

I guess you'll just have to go out and shoot your own from now on. Then you'll know where it came from.

6:23 PM  
Blogger Janell said...

FYI - if you ask the manager of your store's meat department, he will probably know where it came from. That sticker is pretty vague, isn't it?

7:47 AM  
Blogger Dan said...

Maybe they are trying to tell you that some of the meat is the good part of the cow, the rest is from it's north and south of the border.

9:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ralph, The new labeling is because of a National Law called the COOL legislation that requires the packing house to label all meat products as to origin. (birthplace) Since the United states farmers and ranchers do import some feeder cattle from Mexico and Canada and then finish them in the USA--when they are harvested the facilty does not have enough separate lines to sort--they have chosen to label in this manner.
Not all ranchers and cattle feeders are satisfied with this designation and the Cattlmen's groups tried to work with USDA on the labeling issue for several years.
You need to call your individual congressmen about the confusion they have created among consumers.
Thanks for the opportunity to inform--can't remember my password but this is BeefQueen in NE.

2:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Multiple choice? Have you looked at frozen veggies? Everything around here either lists no country or "Mexico." I know we can't be bothered to manufacture much of anything these days, but are we above raising crops, as well? Buying local is great during the summer, but winter is another story. For now, I'll embrace the my frozen rectangles of green beans and broccoli, pretending they were raised here. Ignorance is bliss?

10:17 AM  
Blogger Aravis said...

I've never been to Mexico, so it looks like your steak is more well-traveled than I am!

I've just realized that I didn't have your blog link up since I switched to Wordpress. Sorry! Am correcting it now.

2:54 PM  

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