Transparency for Missouri beef consumers and producers
Transparency for Missouri beef consumers and producers
Why this petition matters
Missouri cattlemen and women, as well as consumers, are strongly urging reform. Currently, U.S. produced beef sits on our grocery shelves, and in every other portion of the supply chain, right next to foreign raised beef with NO mandatory labeling to identify its origin.
There are 4 major meat packers in this country who are enjoying an oligopoly. These packers are and have been fighting against MCOOL ( mandatory country of origin labeling). They are importing beef from foreign countries with sub-standard practices and little to no regulation. All the while Missouri / U.S. producers are held to costly high standards by the EPA and USDA to ensure we have the highest quality and safest beef in the world. Missouri / U.S. consumers deserve to verify the source of their beef similar to the labeling practices in other segments of the food supply chain. U.S. producers should be recognized for the world-leading standards and the integrity of the product these men and women strive to produce.
Attention Governor Parsons, Senator Roy Blunt, Senator Josh Hawley, Rep Sam Graves: We demand you stand up for our food security by giving consumers the choice to purchase MCOOL ( mandatory country of origin labeling) beef. The only animals/ beef that will need to be identified are those that are imported to ensure our producers are not burdened with these costs. All associated costs should be the responsibility of the party that wishes to import a product of which we already produce an ample supply.
We also request that you stand by and enforce the antitrust law ( The Packers and Stockyards act of 1921). We have witnessed over the course of Covid-19, that 4 packers create far too great of a bottleneck in our food chain. Packer profits have grown exponentially and prices for the consumers have risen due to an extremely limited number of packers. All while producers are being offered extremely low prices which are putting the industry and sustainability of U.S. beef producers in peril. Missouri / U.S. producers deserve a fair and competitive market.
Decision Makers
- Josh HawleyU.S. Senator
- Governor Mike parson
- Senator Roy Blunt
- Senator Josh Hawley
- Roy BluntUS Senate - Missouri